Atletico Madrid vs Inter Milan

Metropolitano Stadium is the venue as Atletico Madrid and Inter Milan go head-to-head in the return leg of their Champions League last-16 tie, with the visitors boasting a slender 1-0 lead.

Atletico Madrid’s ninth appearance in the Champions League last-16 across the last 11 campaigns didn’t start as expected. However, this is a perfect opportunity to turn this tie on its head as Diego Simeone’s men return to the Metropolitano, where they’re unbeaten in 19 of their 20 competitive matches this season (W18, D1). As La Liga’s best home side (W13, D1), Los Rojiblancos demonstrated their home prowess in the Champions League group stages, winning all three games in Madrid, including the last two via multi-goal margins. But although the Spaniards boast a narrowly positive all-time record against Serie A clubs in European football (W15, D3, L13), their pre-game form looks concerning. Simeone’s lads have lost five of their last eight competitive outings (W2, D1), including a 2-0 defeat at Cadiz over the weekend.

In contrast to Atletico Madrid’s underwhelming form, visiting Inter have gone from strength to strength in 2024, winning all 13 games since the turn of the year, including a 1-0 triumph at Bologna last weekend. That victory maintained their handsomely-looking 16-point at the Serie A table’s summit and prepped them nicely for this trip. ‘I Nerazzurri’ can draw further inspiration from their outstanding record of navigating through 42 out of 46 UEFA knockout ties after winning the first leg at home. Keen to uphold that trend, Simone Inzaghi’s men will turn to their formidable away form for encouragement, having won their last six competitive away matches, including four without conceding. But notoriously slow starts in continental action on hostile turf saw Inter seek salvation beyond the 70th minute in two of their three group-stage fixtures (W1, D2).