Atalanta vs Real Madrid Prediction, 2/24/2021 Champions League Pick, Tips and Odds

by Josh Schonwald - 2/18/2021

Game: Atalanta vs Real Madrid

Date: Wednesday, February 24, 2021

Location: Stadio Atleti Azzurri d'Italia in Bergamo, Italy

TV: CBS All Access

Odds/Point Spread: Atalanta (+167) Real Madrid (+130)

Stadio Atleti Azzurri d'Italia is the site where Josip Ilicic and Atalanta (3-2-1 in Champions League) will take on Real Madrid (3-1-2 in Champions League) on Wednesday. The goalkeepers protecting the net will be Pierluigi Gollini for Atalanta and Thibaut Courtois for Real Madrid. Real Madrid are at at +130 while Atalanta are at +167. The over/under has been set at 3.

Atalanta played Cagliari in their most recent game and notched a win by a score of 1-0. When discussing the passing game, they ended with a 84.2% passes received rate by converting 559 out of their 664 targeted passes last game. Atalanta tried 20 dribbles in this matchup and successfully completed 10 of those tries for a percentage of 50.0%. In terms of shooting accuracy, Atalanta finished the game at a 20.0% rate by landing 2 shots on target of 10 shots. Atalanta has an average of 2.18 goals per 90 min (48 goals in total) and have accounted for 32 assists In all contests this season.

Josip Ilicic is a guy who should impact this matchup for Atalanta. He has 49 assists while earning 35 yellow card warnings in his career. Ilicic has been in the starting lineup in 239 matchups so far in his pro soccer career and he scores 0.40 G/90. The forward born in Slovenia has tallied 91 goals in 20,385 mins played. One more guy who could decide who wins is Duvan Zapata, the forward representing Colombia. He has assisted a teammate on a goal 28 times during his soccer career while he has scored 89 total goals. Zapata has 14,248 mins during 161 starts and has earned himself 20 yellow card cautions. He scores 0.56 G/90 so far in his career.

The guy who will defend the goal for Atalanta will be Pierluigi Gollini. Gollini (53-43-31 record in his career) has earned 30 clean sheets, which gives him a 23.8% clean sheet rate. The goalkeeper representing Atalanta has seen 461 shots tried against him in 126 starting assignments. His goals allowed per 90 mins is 1.20 (150 total goals given up) and he is the owner of a save % of 69.8. Gollini has seen the field for a total of 11,246 minutes and has accumulated 320 stops during his career.

When they last played, Real Madrid went home victorious with a score of 2-0 against Valencia. They wrapped up this match by converting 632 of the 696 passing attempts for a rate of 90.8%. Real Madrid finished the match with a 50.0% successful dribble percentage by completing 9 out of the 18 dribbles they pursued. Real Madrid landed 7 shots on target out of their 16 shots attempted which had them stting at a 43.8% clip in their last outing. Having a total of 38 goals and 30 assists in all their matches, Real Madrid is averaging 1.65 goals and 1.30 assists per 90 min.

Toni Kroos will need to provide a spark for Real Madrid. He sports an average of 0.13 goals per 90 mins and has had a starting assignment in 327 contests so far in his career. The midfielder born in Germany has accumulated 28,609 minutes and has earned 40 goals. He has earned 51 yellow card cautions in his pro soccer career and has helped on a goal 81 times. Be sure to keep an eye out for Karim Benzema, the forward taking the field for Real Madrid. He has earned 224 goals so far in his career while assisting a teammate on a goal 99 different times. Benzema has been given a total of 10 yellow card cautions in 33,304 mins played (389 career starts). His goals per 90 average thus far in his career is 0.61.

Thibaut Courtois will look after the net for Real Madrid. Thus far in his career, Courtois has surrendered 331 goals while tallying 828 stops in 362 starts. He has surrendered 0.92 goals per 90 while holding a record of 217-75-67. He is the owner of a save % of 72.5 and his shutout rate sits at 43.6%. Courtois has totaled 158 shutouts while defending 1,144 shots against him in 32,394 career minutes.

Who will win tonight's Champions League game against the spread?

Josh Schonwald's Pick: Take Atalanta (+167)

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Atalanta vs Real Madrid Prediction, 2/24/2021 Champions League Pick, Tips and Odds

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