Leicester v Atlético: line-ups, where to watch, form guide
Monday, April 17, 2017
Article summary
"Fire in your belly and cool, smart heads" – that is Leicester manager Craig Shakespeare's recipe for overcoming Atlético, a much more surmountable obstacle if captain Wes Morgan is passed fit.
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Article body
- Atlético lead 1-0 from last Wednesday's first leg in Madrid
- Leicester have 100% record at home in UEFA Champions League
- Robert Huth suspended, captain Wes Morgan facing late fitness test
- Atlético seeking third semi-final appearance in four seasons
- Rojiblancos have won both previous ties against Leicester
Possible line-ups
Leicester: Schmeichel; Simpson, Morgan, Benalouane, Fuchs; Mahrez, Ndidi, Drinkwater, Albrighton; Okazaki; Vardy.
Out: Huth (suspended), Mendy (ankle), Wague (shoulder)
Doubtful: Morgan (back), Slimani (groin)
Misses next match if booked: Ndidi, Slimani, Vardy
Atlético: Oblak; Juanfran, Savić, Godín, Filipe Luís; Carrasco, Saúl, Gabi, Koke; Griezmann, Gameiro.
Out: Tiago (not in squad), Vrsjalko (knee), Augusto Fernández (knee)
Misses next match if booked: Giménez
Where to watch
Fans can find their local UEFA Champions League broadcast partner(s) here.
Craig Shakespeare, Leicester manager
There are no free games in football and we are not here to make up the numbers, we're here to have a right go – that will be the first message. Yes, you want footballers to enjoy it and play with a smile on their face because that is when you get the best out of them, but we also need to be smart and alert to all the things it takes to win a match.
We have the right balance within the squad – you have to have fire in your belly but you also have to have cool, smart heads at times and we've proved over the last 18 months we are more than capable of that. We know what we have to do and we can't sit back for 90 minutes because we need to score. We will start as underdogs but we're comfortable with that.
Diego Simeone, Atlético coach
Leicester are in decent form and in the last six or seven games they have been back to doing what they did last season. Because of our qualities and theirs too, in some respects we are very similar. It will not be too different from the game in Spain – a hard game with a narrow scoreline, decided on small details.
The best thing my team have done these past few years is to compete, in every competition we play in, and I think it's a big strength of this group. Tomorrow we will find a big atmosphere, Leicester will feel very strong at home with their fans and we have to be ready to play in a way that allows us to do them damage; we have to have as much of the ball as we can to make that happen.
We come out strong at the Calderón, they do the same in their stadium. We're two teams that feed off small details. It'll be a close contest.
Weekend results
Crystal Palace 2-2 Leicester (Cabaye 54, Benteke 70; Huth 6, Vardy 52)
A strong Leicester side squandered a two-goal lead at Selhurst Park but edged nine points clear of the Premier League's relegation zone nonetheless after third-bottom Swansea lost at Watford. Having won their first six matches under Shakespeare, the Foxes are now without a victory in three in all competitions.
Atlético 3-0 Osasuna (Carrasco 30 47, Filipe Luís 61)
Yannick Carrasco moved into double figures for Liga goals this term, but was denied a hat-trick late on as Salvatore Sirigu saved the first of two Atlético penalties in as many minutes, with Thomas the second man to be thwarted from the spot.
Form guide (all competitions, most recent first)
Leicester: DLLWWW
Atlético: WWDWWW
Reporter's view: Simon Hart (@UEFAcomSimonH)
Surely Leicester cannot keep on defying the odds? They face a much tougher task than when overturning a first-leg deficit against Sevilla in the last round but you write them off at your peril. Yes, on paper, Atleti have the know-how and the 1-0 lead. Yet Leicester, with their noisy crowd behind them, have ripped up the script before.
They will need to strike the right balance between finding the goals they require and thwarting Atleti's counterattacking threat – the good game management that Shakespeare has demanded – and it would certainly help them if captain Morgan was passed fit. However, their second-half improvement in Madrid last week – after the initial shock of Antoine Griezmann's movement – was cause for encouragement ahead of one of the biggest nights in the club's history.
Did you know?
Atlético beat Chelsea on their last visit to England in 2014, only their second win in eight attempts away to English opposition. They have lost four. Find out more in our extensive match background.