FC Copenhagen - Atl. Madrid 15/02/2018

[dakashev]

21:05 FC Copenhagen - Atl. Madrid 6.18 3.77 1.58

[Daemon Caledor]

This is all up to Atletico Madrid. How will they approach this match? Will they rest any players? It must be tempting for Simeone to field half a reserve team since they should still be able to progress with ease. Especially now when they are suddenly "just" seven points behind Barcelona.

FCK, on the other hand, are ten points behind... the third placed team... in the Danish league. That pretty much sums up the difference between these two teams.
In the weekend, they beat Randers 5-1 but that score was way too flattering. Five goals from four shots on target :-)

Fact is that the Copenhagen team is still struggling to find a gameplan. The defense is in shambles and the manager has his favourites who will play regardless of their current form and ability.

A couple of things on the upside however: Viktor Fischer has been brought in and by Danish standards he is a superstar. He still needs time to adapt to his new team but already his pure class is shining through. Also, main striker Santander is back from injury - unless he got injured again in the last moment of the weekend match. The club has not given any updates on his situation so far.

All in all, I would really recommend to wait until the line-ups are shown before betting on this match.
At the moment, I 've got my sights set on Atl. M to win and under 2.5 goals @ 3.10 (0-1 or 0-2) but we shall have to wait and see.

[CursedLuck]

I agree it's all up to Madrid lads, this is a disgrace for them (to play in EL after so many semi/finals in CL). I really don't see them caring too much about this.

[litost]

i agree for atletico this comp is not such a big deal as 5 years ago ....
and that factor will play at soem point ..sp since CL spot is almost granted through dom competition .. and also couse i thing simeone still hopes to pray on on paper untouchable barsa that however has some players wich teh closer we get to russia the furher will go their focus on club level ... just like 4 years ago only this time cules have sharp valverde on helm and hes making them yield at cruise mood ..well see in one month from now if atletico has chances for league title ... then EL will become uselles.. but now ..going game by game as cholo mantra goes FCK may very well pay for late europe atletico outings ... they deserved at least a win ..and danes may pay for it just out of frustration ..costa is rested but they recover influeuntial godin ..

line up will be almost best 11 ... but its often not so easy in europe as it looks and not sure only wanting it atletico will get it ... sp since f.i a sc draw is not bar result in knock out comp ...

[mij0sim]

Guys, what about BTS? Watched Copenhagen in first part of the season. Defense didnt look good. Is something changed during winter break? If Atletico firld strong team they should score?
On the other hand i dont think its impossible for FCK to score. Home adventage, crowd behind them, should have great motivation.

[Daemon Caledor]

I doubt it. Of course they CAN score but this is still not the Copenhagen team of the past two or three years. That team would have gone out today with the belief that a good result was a real possibility. They would try to seize the chance if it was given.

The team of today is looking to avoid a thrashing which they know could easily happen. There's no real confidence in getting a result from the two matches. It's more like "miracles can happen".

FCK main striker Santander is unlikely to be risked from the start and if Fischer plays on the flank like he did in the weekend, this leaves Pavlovic and Sotiriou up front and they really aren't cut out for this level.

All in all, I don't see the Copenhagen offense being able to keep the Atletico defense busy. Chances will be few for the home team and I still think a repeat of the score from ten years ago is the most likely result: 0-2.

[mij0sim]

Well i get the point. Probably its just up to me, but dont like playing Atletico away. Dont like teams which doesnt score much. If they concede first its tough to turn around. But if FCK defense is bad than why not.

[sirac]

BTS in Atleti game? Simeone just loves to kill this kind of games with 1-0. Compact defense, slow possession, everybody behind the ball, everybody running hard, clean sheet the big priority thats Atleti style. No value on BTS unless you really think FCK will have a big game and will play some fabolous stuff but its really hard to do that considering how Atleti is set-up.

[Daemon Caledor]

Well, mij0sim, you got it right. Congratulations.
Atletico Madrid had an easy night in Copenhagen. FCK simply doesn't have what it takes at this level at the moment. Letting in four goals at home against a team that wasn't really giving it 100% is embarassing and should have consequences for the manager... though I doubt we will see any.