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Diego Simeone's Atletico side made headlines by eliminating last year's runners-up Inter Milan in a thrilling penalty shootout in the last 16, while Borussia Dortmund secured a 3-1 victory over PSV Eindhoven to advance.
Despite facing a 2-0 deficit against Inter Milan, Atletico fought back valiantly, with Antoine Griezmann and Memphis Depay helping them force extra time and penalties, ultimately securing their passage to the quarter-finals.
Atletico Madrid, despite their remarkable comeback, haven't progressed beyond this stage since the 2016-17 season, facing exits at the hands of RB Leipzig and Manchester City in recent years. Their form in La Liga has been inconsistent, leaving them just two points ahead of Athletic Bilbao in fourth place.
However, Atletico's home record in the Champions League is formidable, having never been knocked out in a knockout tie at the Wanda Metropolitano or their former Vicente Calderon stadium. They'll look to maintain this record against Dortmund, who topped a tough group including Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain.
Borussia Dortmund, led by Edin Terzic, clinched a last-16 spot after overcoming Dutch champions-elect PSV Eindhoven. Their recent form has been mixed, with a defeat to Stuttgart denting their Bundesliga top-four aspirations. Despite this setback, they remain in contention for a Champions League spot in the league table.
Both teams have shown they're capable of producing moments of brilliance, setting the stage for an intriguing encounter. Dortmund will be keen to avenge their previous losses to Atletico, making this clash one to watch out for in the Champions League quarter-finals.
INJURIES & SUSPENSION
After missing out on the France squad in March due to an ankle injury, Antoine Griezmann is back in top form leading the attack for Simeone's side. Unfortunately, his teammate Thomas Lemar is sidelined with an Achilles tendon injury, and Mario Hermoso is unlikely to feature due to a thigh issue. Reinildo and Axel Witsel are expected to join Jose Gimenez in defense.There's a late fitness concern over Memphis Depay, who couldn't complete Saturday's training session due to a knock. As a result, Alvaro Morata is likely to partner with Griezmann upfront in Wednesday's match.
For Borussia Dortmund, Nico Schlotterbeck returns to the Champions League squad after serving a suspension in the last match against PSV. However, Ramy Bensebaini is ruled out due to a knee injury. There's uncertainty surrounding Donyell Malen's availability, as he returned to training but suffered a minor setback before the recent game against Stuttgart.
Terzic still has options like Marco Reus, Sebastien Haller, and Jamie Bynoe-Gittens to freshen up the attack if needed. However, Niclas Fullkrug is expected to lead the line, despite his recent goal drought of eight games.
POSSIBLE LINE-UPS
Atletico Madrid possible starting lineup:Oblak; Witsel, Gimenez, Reinildo; Molina, Llorente, Koke, De Paul, Lino; Griezmann, Morata
Borussia Dortmund possible starting lineup:
Kobel; Ryerson, Hummels, Schlotterbeck, Maatsen; Sabitzer, Can, Brandt; Sancho, Fullkrug, Adeyemi
EXPERT PREDICTION
Atletico Madrid 2-1 Borussia Dortmund
Atletico Madrid has always been a formidable defensive force in Champions League knockout matches at home, making them a daunting opponent for any visiting team.
They've had the advantage of a longer rest period leading up to Wednesday's first leg, which comes as a much-needed break given their inconsistent performances in domestic competitions.
On the other hand, Borussia Dortmund's recent form might appear more promising, but they struggled to find their edge in a loss to Stuttgart, another contender in European competitions.
This setback suggests that Dortmund might face another narrow defeat, especially if Atletico manages to secure a one-goal lead in the first leg and take the advantage to Signal Iduna Park.
