LOKOMOTIV MOSCOW – ATLETICO MADRID EUROPA LEAGUE
The relegation from the Champions League has not affected the self-esteem of Atletico Madrid, which is trying to turn a disappointment into an opportunity. The team coached by Diego Pablo Simeone is the big favorite in the odds according to the odds of the bookmakers for the conquest of the Europa League 2017-2018. His landing in the quarterfinals is now more than likely, thanks to the clear 3-0 loss to Lokomotiv Moscow in the first leg of the second round.
Atletico Madrid have lost only one of their last eleven official matches: 1-0 against Barcelona, which arrived on March 4 in the Liga, in a match decided by a splendid free-kick by Leo Messi. Only the feat of the Argentine champion has recently stopped the Atletico race, reinforced during the winter transfer market by the return of Diego Costa, a very useful attacker to the game of Simeone.
The Moscow Lokomotiv will have to pursue a sensational enterprise and will try to dare. The coach Yuri Semin will ask Aleksei Miranchuk and Manuel Fernandes to assist Eder and to take much more care of the offensive phase than the absence of possession. The goalkeeper Werner, who will replace the injured Oblak holder, could suffer at least one goal, but Atletico Madrid will also have many opportunities on the counterattack and will try to take advantage especially with Antoine Griezmann, who should play in pairs with Fernando Torres. The two in speed could repeatedly put in difficulty the slow defense host led by the Croatian expert Corluka.
The probable formations of Lokomotiv Moscow-Atletico Madrid
LOKOMOTIV MOSCOW (3-4-2-1): Kochenkov; Kvirkvelia, Corluka, Pejcinovic; Ignatjev, Denisov, An. Miranchuk; Rybus; Al. Miranchuk, Fernandes; Eder.
ATLETIC MADRID (4-4-2): Werner; Juanfran, Gimenez, Godin, Filipe Luis; Partey, Gabi, Saul Niguez, Vitolo; Torres, Griezmann.
Prediction Today: 1-2, X2
Odds: 1.25