Atletico vs Real Madrid LIVE: Champions League team news and line-ups as Arsenal set to face winners

In the spirit of Cheltenham, this season’s La Liga title race has shaped up to be a three-horse race, with just a point separating the leading trio.

Atletico and Real Madrid make up two of those sides, with the third having already booked their place in the Champions League quarter-finals.

Barcelona breezed past Benfica yesterday, with 17-year-old sensation Lamine Yamal once again starring as the Blaugrana won 4-1 on aggregate.

Who will join Hansi Flick’s side in the last eight – and who will have the ignominy of being the horse that falls first?

Liverpool have to quickly pick themselves up, after a deflating elimination that currently feels like the first time they are slightly faltering under Slot.

This is the sixth time the teams have met in the Champions League in the last 12 seasons and the record does not make pretty reading for Atletico Madrid

Real have come out on top in each meeting, first setting the tone in the 2014 final. Sergio Ramos netted a last-gasp equaliser in Lisbon, mere seconds before Atleti would have been crowned European champions – with their richer neighbours going on to win 4-1 after extra time.

Then came 2016 final in Milan, with Diego Simeone’s side losing on penalties. And the 2017 semi-final, when Real won 4-2 on aggregate.

Despite having been right alongside them domestically for the past decade, Atletico can never seem to do the job against their city rivals in Europe. Will that change tonight?

Arsenal have more than one foot in the Champions League quarter-finals after thrashing PSV Eindhoven 7-1 in their last-16 first leg.

Real Madrid have progressed from 21 of their last 22 Champions League ties when they’ve won the first leg, with the exception against Ajax in the last 16 in 2018-19.

Under boss Carlo Ancelotti, they’ve progressed from nine out of nine.

A draw would obviously be enough for Real to progress and if anyone knows how to do enough, it’s Ancelotti’s side, who always come alive in this competition.

Atletico Madrid XI: Oblak; Llorente, Gimenez, Lenglet, Reinildo; Simeone, De Paul, Barrios, Gallagher; Alvarez, Griezmann.

Subs: Musso, Azpilicueta, Molina, Witsel, Galan, Le Normand, Kostis, Lemar, Lino, Riquelme, Sorloth, Correa.

It’s a full-strength team for Atleti, with a notable return coming on the bench as Cesar Azpilicueta makes his comeback from injury.

Atleti have built something of a fortress at home though and haven’t lost at either the Vicente Calderon and Metropolitano Stadium in the Champions League since a 3-2 defeat to Ajax in March 1997 and are unbeaten in 18 since, winning 11 and drawing the other seven.

They know only a win will be enough if they are to knock out the 15-time champions.

Real Madrid XI: Courtois; Valverde, Asencio, Rudiger, Mendy; Tchouameni, Modric; Rodrygo, Bellingham, Vini Jr; Mbappe.

Subs: Lunin, Gonzalez, Alaba, Camavinga, Guler, Endrick, Vazquez, Garcia, Diaz, Gonzalo, Jacobo, Chema.

Mbappe starts, as does Luka Modric in midfield! Jude Bellingham returns from suspension.

A lot of talk is made about about Real Madrid’s immense attacking threat, with Carlo Ancelotti’s front three of Rodrygo, Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Jr. sure to strike fear into any defence in European football.

However, it would be a disservice not to recognise the potency of Atleti’s front line, much of which stems from frontman Julian Alvarez.

Having been resigned to playing second fiddle to Erling Haaland at Manchester City, Alvarez has been let loose since arriving in Madrid – something that’s been evident in the Champions League, notching at least one goal in each of his last five European appearances for Atlético, with six goals and one assist.

The only two Argentinean players to score or assist in six European games in a row are Claudio López, who scored six in 1999 for Valencia, and Lionel Messi, with eight in 2011-12 and six in 2014 for Barcelona. He’ll be in good company if he manages that feat tonight.

Julian Alvarez to score or assist – 31/20 Unibet

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