Bayer Leverkusen vs. Atletico Madrid Betting Tips: Simeone's side to frustrate German hosts
Bayer Leverkusen will hope to wake themselves up from a sleepwalking start to the season as they host Atletico Madrid on Tuesday as part of the second wave of Champions League fixtures.
Bayer Leverkusen vs Atletico Madrid Tips
Atletico's reputation as a set of undisciplined individuals led by a nefarious leader in Diego Simeone isn't exactly wrong in its assessment, but isn't entirely correct as most believe it either.
The Spanish outfit have an incredibly frustrating habit of exuding energy in useful moments - cynically stopping attacks to slow the speed of a match down, or surrounding the referee in order to sway a controversial talking point in their favour being two perfect examples.
These choices, rightly or wrongly, rub opponents the wrong way, and more often than not, result in those frustrations being taken out on Atleti in the most egregious fashion. In the best description possible, this is controlled chaos overseen by the team's coach and puppet master.
But just look at how effective its been against their opposition this season, and tell us it's not a stroke of genius: Getafe received two yellows, Villarreal three, Valencia topped them both with four and Real Sociedad went one better with five, before Porto picked up three bookings and one red, and Celta Vigo saw three yellows themselves over the weekend.
Leverkusen are middle of the road when it comes cautions this term, seeing 11 in total across their six league encounters. But even the most regimented sides find it extremely difficult to keep their cool against a team who deploy an unprecedented level of expertise in the dark arts. If Club Brugge managed to get them riled up enough to clear this line, then the Spaniards should have no trouble - especially if things play out how many will be expecting; Atleti squeeze the life out of the game, control where Leverkusen retain possession and exhibit persistent time wasting in a close contest.
Bet365 have this line of three or more Leverkusen cards at odds-on, so we'll take the 6/5 with Paddy Power.
Just like cards against, shots on target for isn't an area you'd necessarily jump to when betting on an Atleti game. But allow us to build a case for this particular selection of Atletico registering six or more shots on target.
Simeone's side are incredibly effective with their attacks and that's largely reflected in their shots-shots on target ratio this season: 4 from 10 vs Celta Vigo (won 4-1), 3 from 10 vs Porto (won 2-1), 7 from 15 vs Real Sociedad (1-1 draw), 7 from 13 vs Valencia (won 1-0), 5 from 13 vs Villarreal (lost 2-0) and 5 from 12 vs Getafe (won 3-0).
There may have only been two successes for them clearing this line, but their notoriety appears to be overshadowing just how effective they can be going forward.
Leverkusen are the type of team that can offer them that opportunity and this is reflected in the numbers for teams facing the Germans: 6 from 17 for Hertha Berlin, 3 from 9 for Club Brugge, 4 from 6 for Freiburg, 3 from 18 for Mainz, 5 from 10 for Hoffenheim, 4 from 6 for Augsburg, 4 from 14 for Dortmund and 10 from 17 for SV Elversberg.
For those a little more conservative minded, 5+ Atleti shots on target is 6/4 with the same bookie, while 7+ - which has landed as many times as 6+ this term - is a very appealing 11/2.
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