Atletico Madrid vs RB Leipzig: Preview, predictions and lineups | OneFootball

Atletico Madrid host RB Leipzig this Thursday as both sides begin their 2024/25 Champions League campaigns with a tricky test.

Diego Simeone's side are never an easy match in Europe's premier competition but they haven't been as impressive in recent seasons. Following two final defeats to city rivals Real Madrid in the mid-2010s, the Spanish giants have only gone beyond the quarter-final stage once since the 2015/16 campaign.

Atletico have made an encouraging start to the season, however, winning three of their opening five La Liga fixtures and keeping four clean sheets in the process. For RB Leipzig in the Bundesliga, things have been similar, with two victories and a draw from their first three outings.

Marco Rose boasts a strong squad with some impressive additions over the summer and Leipzig will be hoping to go beyond the last 16 for the first time since 2019/20. Matches against Atletico, Juventus and Liverpool in their first three fixtures of the newly-expanded Champions League will certainly test their credentials.

Here is 90min's guide to an intriguing battle in the Spanish capital.

What time does Atletico Madrid vs RB Leipzig kick-off?

Location: Madrid, SpainStadium: Metropolitano StadiumDate: Thursday 19 SeptemberKick-off Time: 20:00 BST / 15:00 ET / 12:00 PTReferee: Ivan Kruzliak (SVK)VAR: Tomasz Kwiatkowski (POL)

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How to watch Atletico Madrid vs RB Leipzig on TV and live stream

Atletico Madrid team news

Julian Alvarez opened his account at the weekend / SOPA Images/GettyImages

Simeone is without Reinildo and Pablo Barrios for Thursday's clash with Leipzig but boasts a clean bill of health across the rest of his talented squad.

Julian Alvarez and Conor Gallagher scored their first goals for Atletico against Valencia at the weekend after summer moves, with the former likely to start against Leipzig.

Alvarez could replace another new recruit in Alexander Sorloth. The Norwegian has blanked for club and country since scoring on the opening day of the season and could be used as a substitute against his former employers.

Atletico's three centre-backs will be tested by Leipzig's attacking dynamos at the Metropolitano and they will need plenty of support from attack-minded wing-backs Marcos Llorente and Samuel Lino.

Atletico Madrid predicted lineup vs RB Leipzig

Atletico Madrid predicted lineup vs RB Leipzig (3-5-2): Oblak; Gimenez, Le Normand, Azpilicueta; Llorente, De Paul, Koke, Gallagher, Lino; Griezmann, Alvarez.

RB Leipzig team news

Xavi Simons will be key in beating Madrid / Maja Hitij/GettyImages

Leipzig are without two midfielders for the trip to Spain, with Austrian Xaver Schlager and summer signing Assan Ouedraogo both sidelined. Arthur Vermeeren, who is on loan from Madrid, could step into the midfield.

Despite scoring four times over the international break with Slovenia, Sesko is yet to open his Bundesliga account for the season. However, his starting spot alongside Lois Openda and Xavi Simons in attack is safe.

RB Leipzig predicted lineup vs Atletico Madrid (3-4-3): Gulacsi; Geertruida, Orban, Lukeba; Henrichs, Haidara, Seiwald, Raum; Openda, Sesko, Simons.

Atletico Madrid vs RB Leipzig score prediction

While both sides have kept a combined six clean sheets in eight league outings this term, the Champions League often provides unrivalled entertainment. The competition's natural pace is much faster than Europe's domestic competitions and neutrals may reap the benefits of that when tuning into Atletico's clash with Leipzig.

Both clubs have an abundance of attacking firepower, with Antoine Griezmann, Alvarez and Sorloth facing off against Simons, Openda and Sesko. Atletico and Leipzig will be comfortable playing on the counter-attack, potentially forcing a shootout between the two forward lines.