Atletico Madrid vs Borussia Dortmund predicted XIs: Confirmed team news and probable line-ups
Wednesday night sees the final round of Champions League quarter-final first-leg fixtures with Atletico Madrid hosting Borussia Dortmund at the Metropolitano Stadium.
The two sides last met in this competition in the group stages of the 2018/19 edition, with each team winning their home fixtures against the other 2-0 and 4-0 respectively.
Both Atletico and Dortmund overcame sides on course to win their domestic leagues in the previous rounds, with Diego Simeone’s side defeating Inter Milan on penalties while Edin Terzic’s Dortmund beat PSV 3-1 on aggregate.
The first leg of this tie is due to kick-off at 20:00 GMT on Wednesday 10th April and the game is available to watch in the UK on TNT Sports 2.
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Witsel to face his former employers
With neither side reaching the semi-finals of the competition for at least seven years – Dortmund last made the latter stages en route to the final in 2013 – this tie will likely be seen as a massive opportunity for two of the remaining underdogs left in the tournament.
With so much at stake across these two legs, the pair are hardly going to need much in the way of motivation. However, one man who will likely have more emotional attachment than most is Atletico’s Axel Witsel, who left Dortmund for Madrid back in 2022.
The Belgian made 145 appearances for Die Borussen in all competitions across his four-year stay at the club before joining up with Diego Simeone and Atletico Madrid in 2022 on a free contract.
Witsel has turned into a key figure for Atleti and could be utilised in a back three on Wednesday night as he tries to keep out his former side in what will undoubtedly be a testing night for the 35 year old.
Atletico Madrid vs Borussia Dortmund team news
The hosts will be without Thomas Lemar (achilles), Vitolo (knee) and Mario Hermoso (thigh), while there are doubts surrounding the fitness of Memphis Depay who has struggled to shake off a recent knock.
A strike partnership of Antoine Griezmann and Alvaro Morata is therefore expected to start on Wednesday night, with Simeone likely to utilise a back three – which could arguably be described a back five due to the defensive nature of Atletico’s wide players – similar to the one which overcame Serie A leaders Inter Milan in the previous round in defence.
Dortmund have a couple of injury concerns heading into the first leg in the form of Ramy Bensebaini and Donyell Malen who have both not travelled. Julian Ryerson missed Die Borussen’s loss at Stuttgart through illness but has travelled to Madrid.
Defender Nico Schlotterbeck is available for selection once again after serving his suspension in the previous round against PSV, while Sebastian Haller could start up top ahead of Niclas Fullkrug, who is currently on a run of eight games without a goal.
Atletico Madrid vs Borussia Dortmund predicted line-ups
Atletico Madrid (5-3-2): Oblak; Molina, Gimenez, Witsel, Reinildo, Lino; De Paul, Koke, Llorente; Griezmann, Morata
Borussia Dortmund (4-2-3-1): Kobel; Sule, Schlotterbeck, Hummels, Maatsen; Can, Sabitzer; Adeyemi, Brandt, Sancho; Haller
