Atlético Madrid, a regular contender in the Champions League, reached the quarter-finals last season but were eliminated by Borussia Dortmund.
This year, they kicked off their European campaign with a tight 2-1 win over RB Leipzig but followed it up with a heavy 4-0 defeat to Benfica at Estádio da Luz.
Now, Atlético will look to rebound, especially since their hopes for the La Liga title are fading. Before the international break, they drew 1-1 with Real Madrid in the derby and followed it up with another 1-1 draw against Real Sociedad. As they prepare to face Leganés, Diego Simeone’s side will be eager to get back on track.
Lille, though less experienced in European competitions compared to Atlético, has proven their capabilities. After beating Fenerbahce and Slavia Prague in the summer qualifiers, they began their Champions League journey with a 2-0 loss to Sporting Portugal.
However, Lille bounced back with an impressive 1-0 win over reigning European champions Real Madrid, handing the Spanish giants their first defeat in nearly a year. In Ligue 1, Lille regained their form with two straight wins against Le Havre (3-0) and Toulouse (2-1), climbing to 5th place before facing Monaco.
Atlético Madrid is dealing with some injury concerns ahead of their clash with Lille. Marcos Llorente, injured during the match against Benfica, is unlikely to play, and César Azpilicueta remains sidelined.
However, Breton defender Le Normand could return after recovering from a head injury. Antoine Griezmann, who was rested during the international break, is expected to lead the team.
New signings Julian Alvarez from Manchester City and Alexander Sørloth from Villarreal have yet to make a major impact. For Lille, Angel Gomes, who missed the Real Madrid match due to suspension, will be available, but Andre Gomes is ineligible for this competition.
Lille’s injury list includes key players such as Nabil Bentaleb, Ethan Mbappé, and Samuel Umtiti. Jonathan David, who scored the winning penalty against Real Madrid, is expected to start alongside Edon Zhegrova, who has netted three times in Ligue 1 this season.
Prediction
Despite Atlético Madrid’s reputation in the Champions League, their last 32 home games have seen fewer than 3.5 goals. Lille has followed a similar trend in 19 of their previous 20 away matches at this level. With both teams defensively sound, it’s likely that this game won’t be a high-scoring affair.
Prediction: Atlético Madrid 1 : 1 Lille
