class=”article_teaser__2t5do”>The hosts are favourites to beat the 13-time Champions League winners and we are backing the goals to flow in northern Italy on Wednesday evening
Real Madrid travel to Bergamo to face Atalanta on Wednesday evening in the first leg of their last-16 tie in the Champions League with Zinedine Zidane’s side hoping to transfer their strong recent La Liga form to European competition.
The Spanish champions have won their last four league games, yet they face an Atalanta side with plenty of confidence themselves and Gianpiero Gasperini’s men are free from the burden of any expectations.
Atalanta vs Real Madrid Latest Odds
Despite their inexperience at this level of European competition, the hosts find themselves favourites for Wednesday night’s clash – with bet365 offering them at 7/5 (2.40).
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The 13-time European champions are priced at 7/4 (2.75) with the draw offered at 13/5 (3.60).
Atalanta vs Real Madrid Team News
Real travel to Italy missing three first-choice players with Dani Carvajal, Karim Benzema, and Sergio Ramos all out, with Mariano Diaz likely to start only his second ever Champions League match as the Frenchman’s replacement.
The hosts, for their part, only have full-back Hans Hateboer likely to be out.
Atalanta vs Real Madrid Preview
It is surprising to find the La Liga champions as outsiders for this game, yet the absence of Benzema is arguably the key factor in Madrid not being fancied to win in Italy.
The forward is Real’s top scorer in all competitions this term with 17 goals with the second-most prolific player being defensive midfielder Casemiro with six strikes, demonstrating how reliaant Los Blancos are on their number nine.
Despite the loss of Benzema, the visitors have enough knowhow and tactical guile in European competition and will know the importance of scoring an away goal, having netted in each of their last 20 knockout games in the Champions League.
Atalanta are a side who are built to attack, with their Colombian strike partnership of Duvan Zapata and Luis Muriel looking extremely dangerous, and it is difficult to envisage the team from Bergamo also failing to score on Wednesday.
Atalanta vs Real Madrid Tips and Predictions
Both teams to score and over 2.5 goals is priced at 5/6 (1.83) and looks like an excellent bet for this first leg clash.
Odds correct at the time of writing. Please gamble responsibly.