UCL Playoffs Preview: Atlético, Newcastle and more in action | OneFootball

The UCL Playoffs officially return this week. Europe’s heavyweights who were unfortunate to miss out on automatic qualification prepare for battle across the continent. With eight games spread across two nights this week, let’s take a look at Wednesday’s fixtures. You can read about Tuesday’s fixtures here.

The Big One: Atlético Madrid vs Club Brugge

Jan Breydel Stadium, Bruges

Atlético Madrid Need to Show up in the UCL Playoffs

If there was ever an award for the most inconsistent world class team, it surely has to go to Atlético Madrid. I fail to understand how, with bonafide ballers in their squad, they find themselves not in big club conversations. Just look at their recent run.

They come into the UCL Playoffs against Brugge having thrashed the indomitable FC Barcelona 4-0 in the first leg of the Copa Del Rey semi final. Hansi Flick’s team conceded four goals within the first 45 minutes to a relentless Atleti attack. That performance lifted a lot of pressure off Diego Simeone’s shoulders and should have served as a catapult to close the gap in the La Liga title chase. But the very next game, Los Colchoneros wobbled and fell to local rivals and relegation contenders Rayo Vallecano 3-0.

Atlético only finished 14th in the UCL League Phase, having lost their final league game to Bodø/Glimt 2-1 in yet another inconsistent display. Four wins. One draw. Three defeats. They had automatic qualification in their hands right up until the last match but, in classic Atleti fashion, they did not show up to grasp that opportunity. Gone are the days when Atleti were a notorious defensive side. They conceded 15 goals in eight group stage games while only scoring 17.

Atleti only have three wins in their last eight matches in all competitions. They have also only won one away game in the Champions League this season as they travel to Belgium for the first leg.

Club Brugge will look to hold out for a win in the UCL Playoffs

Club Brugge finished 19th in the league phase with just 10 points but have the advantage of playing this tie at home. They have only lost one out of four home games in Europe this season and won their last home game against Marseille 3-0 to stay in contention. Club Brugge are third in their domestic league and have won five of their last six games in all competitions. Brugge will look to take advantage of Atleti’s poor away record to capitalize on their inconsistent run and possibly aim for a narrow result. Brugge’s midfield trio of Aleksandar Stanković, Raphael Onyedika, and Hans Vanaken will attempt to slow the rhythm of Atleti’s breezy attackers. Their wide attackers in Mamadou Diakhon and Carlos Forbs will test Atletico’s defensive transitions. If this becomes stretched, the Spanish side will be exposed.

Meanwhile Diego Simeone is expected to line his team up in a compact, defensively minded 4-4-2. Griezmann/Alexander Sørloth and Julián Alvarez should lead the attack, followed by a midfield of Koke and Marcos Llorente in the center and Ademola Lookman and Giuliano Simeone out wide. In defense, Atlético have conceded in eight consecutive Champions League matches and will be reinforced at the back with Marc Pubill and David Hancko, with Matteo Ruggeri and Nahuel Molina as full backs. Jan Oblak will round it off between the sticks.

In head to head meetings, Brugge and Atleti have faced each other four times. Each side has one victory apiece and two draws.

My verdict: Atleti might not see this game over the line and Brugge will hold on for a narrow victory.

Unfamiliar Territories: Qarabağ vs Newcastle United

Tofiq Bahramov Stadium, Baku

Qarabağ are in a dream. They had never even won a non qualifier Champions League game in their history before this tournament. Now they find themselves competing in the UCL Playoffs for a spot in the Round of 16. The Azerbaijani outfit recorded famous victories against Benfica away, Frankfurt at home, and a draw against Chelsea at home. They narrowly crept into the playoffs in 22nd position.

The fixture being held in Baku gives them a slight advantage. Qarabağ have lost only one home game in Europe this season and have scored two or more goals four times. They have won three of their last four games in all competitions and currently sit second in the Azerbaijani Premier League.

Eddie Howe’s Newcastle have had a rocky European campaign. The Magpies won four out of their eight league games in the UCL but only won two in the last six. They had many games in which they had control but gave it away and ended up finishing 12th in the table.

The English side come off the back of two impressive victories against Aston Villa in the FA Cup and Tottenham Hotspur in the league. Now, they will be looking for their third win in a row and that should not be difficult against this side.

Arctic Encounter: Bodø/Glimt vs Inter Milan

Aspmyra Stadion, Norway

North of the Arctic Circle, Bodø/Glimt welcome European pedigree in the form of Inter Milan. Bodø’s late surge in the league phase included wins over Manchester City and Atletico Madrid. They did not win any of their first six games in the UCL this season, but two victories against heavyweights ensured they qualified 23rd for the UCL Playoffs. They are also not having any domestic action. The Norwegian league is not active during this time of the year due to the harsh winter. As such, the only action Bodø/Glimt have seen recently has been against European teams in the Champions League.

Beating Manchester City 3-1 and Atletico Madrid 2-1, they would love to cause a hat trick of giant killing. However, Inter are flying this season. Eight points clear at the top of Serie A. They come off the back of six wins in a row in all competitions in which they have scored 20 goals. Bodø/Glimt will be well rested compared to Inter, who play the grueling Serie A week in and week out. But there is no doubt that Inter should comfortably claim a result.

Bodø/Glimt, the semifinalists of last year’s Europa League, versus Inter, the finalists of last year’s Champions League. This fixture has a lot of firepower behind it, but more than likely it will be a one sided tie in favor of the Italians.

Familiar Faces: Olympiacos vs Bayer Leverkusen

Karaiskakis Stadium, Piraeus

Olympiacos already defeated Bayer Leverkusen on this very ground earlier this season. A 2-0 victory masterminded by Jose Mendilibar was one of three CL victories the Greek side attained this season. Just like Bodø/Glimt, Olympiacos also had a late surge in the tournament. They didn’t win any of their first five fixtures, then defeated Kairat Almaty, Bayer Leverkusen, and Ajax in succession to qualify in 18th.

Olympiacos are second in the Greek Super League and have only lost once in their last seven fixtures. This is the first time the Greek side has qualified for the knockouts of the Champions League since the 2013-14 season. However, Olympiacos have never won four in a row in the competition, a feat they have to break if they want to get a result.

Bayer Leverkusen also arrive in red hot form, unbeaten in their last six games. In fact, the last game they lost was against Olympiacos in the aforementioned fixture. Leverkusen’s most recent outing was a 4-0 rout of St. Pauli on the weekend, a victory which took them to sixth in the Bundesliga. If they can keep that momentum up, they can disrupt Olympiacos’ confidence.

Head to head in three games, Olympiacos have won twice and Bayer Leverkusen once. Could the scales be balanced in this fixture?