Read our prediction for Lokomotiv Moscow vs Atl. Madrid below. This preview was written by a sport journalist who is specialised in betting tips and predictions. Use our betting tips for the match between Lokomotiv Moscow vs Atl. Madrid and you can increase your winnings!
Lokomotiv Moscow vs Atl. Madrid Prediction & Betting tips
Atlético Madrid travels with a comfortable 3-0 lead from the first leg of the away match to Moscow on Thursday-evening, so the return in the eighth finals of the Europa League against Russian champion Lokomotiv Moscow will no longer be so exciting. The Russians, however, would like to say goodbye to the European battle scene with their head lifted.
Lokomotiv Moscow:
Lokomotiv Moscow last week did not stand a chance in the first leg of the match and was eventually even lucky that goalkeeper Guilherme only had to fish three balls from his net. If the Russians had managed to score a goal, they might have hoped for a quarter-finals place, but as Yuri Semin’s team hardly ever came close to Atletico Madrid closing point Axel Werner, it seems utopian. The Muscovites need a miracle to keep their hopes of European glory alive.
Lokomotiv Moscow seems to have thrown in the towel already, because Semin did not save anyone in the 0-2 away win over Ural last Monday, thanks to goals from Anton Miranchuk and Manuel Fernandes. An important victory, as the Russian leader with only eight rounds left her lead of eight points on the fellow townspeople Spartak Moscow and CSKA Moscow. It could be that Semin will rotate a little on Thursday evening, although I think that chance is small. Playing against a European superpower like Atletico Madrid, of course you do not say no as a footballer. The former Eredivisie attackers Ari and Jefferson Farfan, however, are just as defender Vladislav Ignatjev doubts for Atletico Madrid home. Eder, the hero of the European Championship finals of 2016, has yet to find his turn with three goals in eleven league matches in Russia, but the Portuguese striker with his physical strength is the ideal coat rack for the creativity of Fernandes and the Miranchuk twins.
Atletico Madrid:
In La Liga, FC Barcelona turned out to be too big a size this season, but Atletico Madrid wants to crown the season with silverware and is therefore full for Europa League wins. After the Spaniards already made short work of FC Copenhagen in the previous round, they also had little to fear from Lokomotiv Moscow in the first leg. The last game of last week was really a match between boys and men. With no fewer than eight clean sheets in the last eleven official matches, the defense is like a house, while the Madrilenians with the royal couple Antoine Griezmann and Diego Costa in the lead have also scored very easily lately.
Upcoming Thursday, Atletico Madrid is not much more at stake, but that does not mean that the visitors will throw at the Lokomotiv Stadium with the cap. Simeone is no fan of rotating anyway, something that he hardly has any opportunities for his narrow selection. Kevin Gameiro and Diego Costa are not completely fit and therefore remain in Madrid as a precaution. Chances are that Griezmann will be joined by Fernando Torres on Thursday evening. Goalkeeper Jan Oblak had to leave the first leg because of injuries, but the Slovenian is back in the return. Furthermore, the canteranos Sergi, Juan Moreno and Olabe also boarded the plane towards the cold Moscow.
Lokomotiv Moscow vs Atl. Madrid head to head matches
08.03.18 EL Atl. Madrid Lokomotiv Moscow 3 : 0
25.10.07 EL Lokomotiv Moscow Atl. Madrid 3 : 3