Tottenham vs Atlético Madrid: Team News and Predicted Lineups

Tottenham Hotspur return to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Wednesday night needing a minor miracle: overturn a 5-2 first-leg deficit against an Atlético Madrid side that has made an art form of protecting leads under Diego Simeone. Kick-off is at 20:00 GMT, with German referee Daniel Siebert appointed to oversee the Champions League last-16 second leg.

The north Londoners’ European aspirations were left in tatters inside 90 minutes in the Spanish capital last week, when a hat-trick of costly errors and a torrid competition debut for goalkeeper Antonín Kinský allowed Atlético to run riot. Yet Igor Tudor’s men showed resilience on Saturday, snatching a 1-1 draw at Anfield thanks to Richarlison’s 90th-minute strike. While survival in the Premier League remains the club’s overriding objective, that late point on Merseyside has at least restored a measure of belief ahead of the return fixture.

Richarlison, however, will play no part after collecting his third yellow card of the tournament in the first leg. Destiny Udogie and Lucas Bergvall have rejoined training but will begin among the substitutes. “One part of the game, not too much,” Tudor said on Tuesday when asked how long the pair might feature.

Cristian Romero has been cleared to return after missing the Liverpool clash with a head injury, but João Palhinha has suffered a setback and will sit out alongside an extensive injury list that already includes Dejan Kulusevski, Wilson Odobert, Ben Davies, Rodrigo Bentancur, James Maddison and Mohamed Kudus. Conor Gallagher remains touch-and-go after a recent illness, while midfielders Souza and Yves Bissouma are ineligible, the latter also nursing an injury.

Atlético arrive in London fresh from a 1-0 win over Getafe and, crucially, without the need to chase the game. Simeone’s squad will be minus goalkeeper Jan Oblak and midfielder Pablo Barrios, both omitted from the travelling party, while forward Rodri Mendoza continues to nurse an ankle problem. Even so, Los Rojiblancos possess an aggregate cushion and the collective know-how to see out a result.

With Spurs shorn of key personnel and compelled to push numbers forward, spaces will inevitably appear for Atlético’s counter-attacks. Expect Simeone to deploy a compact 5-3-2, content to absorb pressure before releasing Antoine Griezmann and Julián Alvarez into the channels. Tudor, by contrast, must weigh ambition against the perils of over-commitment, likely opting for a back three that can morph into a back five without the ball.

Tottenham predicted XI (5-3-2): Kinský; Porro, Romero, Van de Ven, Dragusin, Spence; Sarr, Lo Celso, Johnson; Werner, Son.

Atlético Madrid predicted XI (5-3-2): Gomis; Molina, Witsel, Giménez, Hermoso, Lino; Llorente, Koke, De Paul; Griezmann, Alvarez.

Bookmakers still rate Tottenham slight home favourites at 8/5, but the 29/20 on an Atlético side protecting a three-goal advantage may prove the shrewder wager. Whatever the outcome, Spurs must summon something special to extend their European campaign beyond the chilly March air of north London.