Atalanta vs Real Madrid prediction: How will Champions League fixture play out tonight?

Here’s everything you need to know ahead of the last-16 first leg

Real Madrid midfielder Toni Kroos (Getty Images)

Atalanta welcome Real Madrid to Bergamo this evening for the first leg of the teams’ Champions League last-16 tie.

Serie A outfit Atalanta, quarter-finalists in the competition last season, finished second in their group behind Liverpool, while La Liga champions Real Madrid topped their group ahead of Borussia Monchengladbach.

Madrid, currently second in the Spanish top flight, will look to improve upon their efforts in last season’s edition of the competition, when they were beaten in the last 16 by Manchester City.

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?

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.

Confirmed line-ups

Atalanta XI: Gollini, Toloi, Romero, Djimsiti, Maehle, De Roon, Freuler, Gosens, Pessini, Zapata, Muriel

Real Madrid XI: Courtois, Lucas, Varane, Nacho, Mendy, Modric, Casemiro, Kroos, Isco, Asensio, Vinicius

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.