Champions League: Atletico Madrid vs Bayer Leverkusen match preview

Last season’s finalists look to overturn a first-leg deficit

Hakan Calhanoglu celebrates his goal against Atletico Madrid (GETTY IMAGES)

Last year’s runners-up come into this fixture having seen their La Liga title aspirations reduced to a pipe dream following three consecutive draws following their Champions League first-leg defeat in Germany two weeks ago.

Los Colchoneros’ attack has been blunted with the returning Fernando Torres’ honeymoon period drying up and Croatian hitman Mario Mandzukic having become embroiled in a spat with boss Diego Simeone.

Bayer Leverkusen warmed up for their trip to the Vicente Calderon by sticking four goals past Stuttgart on Friday, but it hasn’t been plain sailing for the Germans either. Having suffered a shock 2-1 defeat by Werder Bremen in the wake of their surprise first-leg victory over Atletico, they were beaten 5-4 at home to Wolfsburg before conceding a late equaliser in a 2-2 draw to Augsburg - scored by goalkeeper Martin Hitz.

KICK-OFF: Tuesday, 19.45pm.

PAST THREE MEETINGS...

Bayer Leverkusen (Calhanoglu) 1-0 Atletico Madrid, Champions League, February 2015

Bayer Leverkusen (Helmes) 1-1 (Merida) Atletico Madrid, Europa League, December 2010

Atletico Madrid (Simao) 1-1 (Derdiyok) Bayer Leverkusen, Europa League, September 2010

ODDS: Athletico Madrid 8/11 Draw 13/5 Bayer Leverkusen 15/4

STATS...

Bayer Leverkusen haven’t reached the quarter-finals in seven years.

First-leg goalscorer Hakan Calhanoglu has had 12 attempts on targets during this campaign - the third highest in the tournament after Cristiano Ronaldo (23) and Lionel Messi (13).

Atletico have lost just three of their last 20 Champions League fixtures.

Only Chelsea’s Nemanja Matic has committed more fouls (22) than Atletico’s Raul Garcia (21) and Bayer’s Lars Bender (20) throughout the campaign this season.

TV: Sky Sports 1/Sky Sports 1 HD/Sky Sports 5/Sky Sports 5 HD - 19.45pm