Atletico Madrid v Sporting: Griezmann to inspire comfortable win

Atletico Madrid v Sporting
Thursday 05 April, 20:05
Live on BT Sport

Given the dominance of Real Madrid and Barcelona in Spanish football, the challenge mounted to their mini-cartel by Diego Simeone’s Atletico Madrid has been truly extraordinary. The Argentine tactician simply hasn’t had the same resources at his disposal as Real or Barca, but he has largely spent wisely, and has made the most of the club’s impressive youth system.

Two Champions League finals were reached, and two painful defeats against Real came to pass. However, the Europa League was won back in 2012, the Copa del Rey was lifted in 2013, and the La Liga title was claimed in 2014. There hasn’t been a trophy win since, and the Europa League represents a great opportunity to put that right.

Atleti have sparkled since dropping down from the Champions League, winning all four of their matches in the UEL. Copenhagen were beaten 5-1 on aggregate, and the Russian league leaders Lokomotiv Moscow were dismissed 8-1 over two legs. Now that the La Liga title push is over, Atleti will field their strongest available side in every remaining game of the competition.

That means the outstanding Antoine Griezmann will feature, and the French international has found some scintillating form. He has scored ten goals in his last seven club games, including hat-tricks against Leganes and Sevilla. He is also well rested after he was suspended for the weekend win over Deportivo La Coruna.

Sporting are by no means out of the Portuguese title race, but they suffered a major blow at the weekend as they lost 1-0 at Braga. There’s no disgrace in losing to the Archbishops, but a victory would have taken Jorge Jesus’ team to within three points of the leaders Benfica, and to within two points of Porto.

Sporting squeezed past Viktoria Plzen in the previous round, scoring the winning goal in the extra-time period after a 2-0 second-leg defeat in the Czech Republic had forced the additional half-hour. Indeed, their away form in Europe has been mixed this term – they lost at Barcelona and Juventus but won 3-2 at Olympiakos. In the Europa League, SCP won 3-1 at Astana in the last 32 (which takes some doing), but performed poorly at Plzen.

A concern for Jesus is that his side simply can’t keep a clean sheet on the road. They haven’t managed a shut-out away from home since late October, a run of 16 matches. Also, Sporting struggle to pick up results in big games away from home. They crumbled under the pressure at Braga, they have lost at Porto in league and cup, and they conceded a late equaliser at Benfica.

Atletico have won their last eight home games in all competitions, and haven’t conceded a single goal in the process. Five of those eight wins have been by a margin of two goals or greater.

As I see it, you can go one of two ways here. You can back the hosts -1.5 on the Asian Handicap at [1.99], or you can back them to win to nil at 8/11 on the Sportsbook. I’ll go for the former.