Atalanta vs Real Madrid: Preview and Betting Tips | UCL 2024

Atalanta face Real Madrid in the Champions League on Tuesday.

When: Tuesday, 10 December 2024, 22:00 SAST
Where: Gewiss Stadium, Italy

Atalanta Form

After losing three of their first six league matches, they have gone 14 fixtures without losing with 12 wins. They score goals for fun and have three wins and two draws in the Champions League. A superb 3-0 win at title rivals Napoli was followed by a 2-0 win at Stuttgart.

A 2-1 vs Udinese and a 3-1 at Parma followed in Serie A. In their last Champions League match, they trashed Young Boys 6-1 in the Champions League with 18 shots. A 2-0 win at Roma made it eight straight league wins before an 87th-minute winner to deservedly beat AC Milan 2-1 with 2.11 xG.

Atalanta Team News

Coach Gian Piero Gasperini is without two right wingback options in Davide Zappacosta and Juan Cuadrado. Striker Gianluca Scamacca remains out long-term after knee surgery.

Centre forward Mateo Retegui is pushing for a recall after being benched vs Milan. Captain Rafael Toloi will hope to be recalled on the left of the back three.

Atalanta Motivation

La Dea are a very attacking side who throw bodies forward and man-mark the opponents when pressing.

They will see a Real Madrid side who are low on confidence and go all out for the win.

Real Madrid Form

Los Blancos have lost five of their last 12 matches. They have just six points from five matches in the Champions League having lost 1-0 away vs Lille and 3-1 at home to AC Milan, nine days after being thrashed 4-0 at home by Barcelona.

After successive La Liga wins, they were thoroughly outplayed throughout in a 2-0 loss at Liverpool. A 2-0 home win over Getafe proved a false dawn as they went to Athletic Bilbao and lost 2-1 despite 63% possession. On Sunday, they scored three goals in 26 minutes to win 3-0 at Girona with just 10 shots attempted.

Real Madrid Team News

Carlo Ancelotti is without three long-term injured players in Dani Carvajal, Eder Militao and David Alaba. Aurelien Tchoumeni is back after injury and but Ferland Mendy and Eduardo Camavinga will play no part.

Vinicius Jr. is back in training and could feature. Jude Bellingham took a knock in the last match but he has trained and will start in the number ten role.

Real Madrid Motivation

Los Blancos desperately need a win here or they could drop out of the qualification spots completely.

Ancelotti will focus totally on the result. The style of play is not important here and they could set up quite conservatively.

Key Stats

Atalanta have won 12 of their last 14 matches (39 goals scored)

Atalanta have scored 38 goals in 15 Serie A matches this season (most in the division)

Atalanta’s Mateo Retegui has scored 14 goals this season

Real Madrid have lost just 3 of their last 4 UCL matches (1 loss in 21 before that)

Real Madrid have conceded in 10 of their last 11 Champions League matches

Verdict: Atalanta vs Real Madrid

This game could go any of the three ways. Atalanta are capable of spanking anyone whilst Madrid could lean on their experience to eke out a win too.

Best Bet: Both Teams to Score and Over 2.5 goals at 1.80
Alternate Bet: Over 3.5 goals at 2.40
Goalscorer Tip: Jude Bellingham to score anytime at 4.00