Atalanta vs Real Madrid predicted line-ups: Team news ahead of Champions League fixture tonight

Atalanta host Real Madrid tonight in the first leg of the sides’ Champions League last-16 clash.

Atalanta made it to the last eight in the tournament last year and finished second in their group behind Liverpool this season, while Spanish champions Madrid secured top spot in their group, beating out Borussia Monchengladbach.

Real, currently second-placed in La Liga, will seek to improve upon their efforts in last term’s edition of the competition, when they were defeated by Manchester City at this very stage.

READ MORE: All Champions League fixtures by date and kick-off time

But they face a tricky challenge as they come up against Atalanta, who are renowned for their reckless abandon going forward. Madrid also have a number of key players out injured, which will toughen the task further.

Here’s everything you need to know about the last-16 first leg.

When is it?

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The game will kick off at 8pm GMT this evening.

How can I watch it?

The match will air live on BT Sport, with subscribers also able to stream it live on the broadcaster’s website and app.

What is the team news?

Atalanta wing-back Hans Hateboer will miss out here through injury, while central defenders Cristian Romero and Berat Djimsiti are both at risk of being suspended – having each picked up two bookings – and so one of the pair could be left out this evening.

Real Madrid, meanwhile, are suffering from an injury crisis at the moment, with striker Karim Benzema joining fellow absentees Eden Hazard, Sergio Ramos, Marcelo, Dani Carvajal, Rodrygo, Eder Militao and Federico Valverde on the sidelines.

Predicted line-ups

Atalanta: Gollini; Toloi, Djimsiti, Palomino; Maehle, De Roon, Freuler, Gosens; Ilicic; Zapata, Muriel

Real Madrid: Courtois; Vazquez, Varane, Nacho, Mendy; Casemiro, Kroos, Modric; Asensio, Diaz, Vinicius Jr

Odds

Atalanta: 13/10

Draw: 11/4

Real Madrid: 15/8

Prediction

Real Madrid are in better form than their Italian opposition entering the first leg, and – especially without a raucous Atalanta crowd in attendance – the Spanish champions would be expected to come out on top here. Their injury issues might complicate matters, though. Atalanta 1-1 Real Madrid.

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