Chelsea vs. Atletico Madrid – Champions League, March 17, 2021

It feels like a couple of the remaining Champions League Round of 16 ties have already been decided. However, Chelsea vs. Atletico Madrid is finely poised.

Thomas Tuchel’s side claimed an impressive 1-0 win in the first leg three weeks ago. But with Atletico flying high at the La Liga summit, Diego Simeone’s men will be confident of turning things around when they visit Stamford Bridge on Wednesday, March 17.

Below, I assess the bookmakers’ odds before sharing my Chelsea vs. Atletico Madrid second leg prediction.

In all honesty, I’m slightly surprised by the odds that 10bet as rolled out for this clash.

Granted, the price for the Chelsea win (2.20) is pretty high. But I didn’t expect the odds for the Atletico Madrid victory (3.40) to be so big, especially when you consider their recent form.

Let’s take a closer look at the teams.

Thomas Tuchel extended his unbeaten start as Chelsea manager to 12 games on Saturday, with the Blues recording a goalless draw against Leeds United at Elland Road.

The German tactician has overseen six wins and four draws in the Premier League since replacing Frank Lampard in the Stamford Bridge hot seat in January, although his finest victory as Blues boss has arguably come in the Champions League.

Not only did the Londoners beat Atletico 1-0 in the first leg, but they also prevented the Spaniards from registering a single shot on target three weeks ago. Chelsea enjoyed the lion’s share of possession, too, with Olivier Giroud netting a spectacular overhead kick.

Of course, beating Atleti twice won’t be easy. But the Blues have showed enough quality in recent games to suggest that they can do the double over Simeone’s men.

Key midfielders Mason Mount and Jorginho are suspended for the second leg. Still, we all know that Chelsea’s squad is packed with world-class replacements in that department.

After enjoying an outrageous run of 15 wins in 16 La Liga games between October and January, it’s probably fair to say that Atletico’s form has taken a turn for the worse in recent weeks.

Yes, Los Colchoneros still boast a six-point lead at the summit of the Spanish top-flight. But having only managed to win three of their last eight league outings – four draws, one defeat – they are no longer unbeatable.

On a brighter note, Luis Suarez is still banging in goals at a frightening rate. The Uruguayan forward has netted 18 goals in 24 La Liga matches this season, although he hasn’t scored in five Champions League games.

Simeone’s Atletico team is renowned for being tough to break down – and that is backed up by the club’s outstanding defensive record this term. Indeed, Atletico has only conceded 18 goals in 27 league games in 2020/21.

Chelsea has also kept multiple clean sheets since Tuchel took over, yet the Blues have struggled at the other end of the pitch.

Regardless of what the bookies’ may think about this matchup, I don’t see Tuchel’s men having it all their own way in the second leg. After all, Chelsea’s forward line has struggled to score goals of late.

Given that both Chelsea and Atletico pride themselves on being defensively solid, I’m expecting another tight encounter on Wednesday. With that in mind, the tasty price for the draw feels like the best bet here.