Now that all six matches of the UEFA Champions League have concluded, Paris Saint-Germain now awaits for their Round of 16 opponent. When looking at some of the clubs, there’s potential for some exciting matchups; however, it’s safe to say none pose a threat quite like Atlético Madrid.
[🌟🎰] Here are our possible @ChampionsLeague last 16 rivals:
🇫🇷 @PSG_English
🇩🇪 @FCBayernEN
🏴 @ManCity
🏴 @LFC
🇩🇪 @RBLeipzig_EN🗓 The draw is to take place in Nyon on Monday at 12 pm CET.
⭐ #UCL
⚽ #AtletiLokomotiv
🔴⚪ #AúpaAtleti pic.twitter.com/PX4NlsGJdT— Atlético de Madrid (@atletienglish) December 11, 2019
On the surface, Los Colchoneros shouldn’t be much of a threat. Through 16 matches, their squad is enduring a disappointing season in La Liga as they currently sit in seventh place. Furthermore, if the team cannot keep Diego Costa healthy, then the striker duties will fall on Álvaro Morata if there’s no addition over the January window.
Atlético has struggled to generate goals this season. According to WhoScored, they’ve only produced 13 goals from open play and zero from a counter-attack. Defensively, PSG should have no trouble keeping Atlético’s attack in check.
Despite that, it will still feel scary for some to see PSG draw Atlético. Also, if Les Parisiens draw Atlético, they’ll have to deal with Diego Simeone, one of the better coaches in Europe. El Cholo doesn’t mind putting together a game plan that will muddy up a matchup as his squads like to Simeone press effectively, be solid defensively and counter-attack quickly. PSG have shown they can get flustered when facing a defensively sound team.
In their 16 La Liga matches, Atlético has only surrendered six, that’s right six goals from open play. Meanwhile, in 16 games, 28 of PSG’s 35 goals this season have come from open play. If this is who Les Parisiens draw, it will be the stereotypical what wins in sports, a good offense or defense.
Then there’s the mental aspect of PSG’s failures. Earlier this year, it seemed like a layup that the capital club would bypass a wounded Manchester United who had recently hired a new coach — then disappointed settled in when PSG beat themselves with mental mistakes that handed over a win.
If PSG is looking to get past the Round of 16 for the first time since 2016, Atlético is the last club they want to see drawn this month.
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I actually think we will draw Atletico, then my second is Tottenham with Dortmund being my dark horse because i think the draw is rigged so why not have Tuchel face his old club. I actually welcome the Atletico challenge… Oblak and Simeone are still there but they aren’t the same Atletico from like 2 or 3 years ago. They’ve been the best defensive team, in my opinion, of this 2010’s era but I welcome the challenge because we need an early test and i think we can slay them.