Atletico Madrid vs Lazio Prediction: Italians unable to wrestle top spot off hosts

Atletico Madrid entertain Lazio on Wednesday with first place in Group E on the line. A win for Maurizio Sarri's side would see the Romans leapfrog their hosts while a draw would be enough for Atleti to remain top with both clubs already guaranteed a place in the knockout stages.

Lazio left it late to snatch a 1-1 draw in the reverse fixture at Rome's Stadio Olimpico in September when goalkeeper Ivan Provedel rose to head home a sensational 95th-minute equaliser.

Winless in their last four away trips, they know they face a huge task to avoid defeat against a side that has won 19 straight home games in a run that dates back to February.

Team news

Atleti coach Diego Simeone made several changes at the weekend when his side were given an uncomfortable time by lowly Almeria.

Central defenders Mario Hermoso and Jose Maria Gimenez are set to return in place of Cesar Azpilicueta and Stefan Savic while there are likely to be fresh legs added in the wing-back positions.

Nahuel Molina and Rodrigo Riquelme, who were both rested after starting in the recent 1-0 defeat against Barcelona, could step back into the line-up.

Lazio will be without injured winger Gustav Isaksen and there is a doubt concerning defender Adam Marusic, who sustained an eye injury in their 1-1 draw with Verona at the weekend.

Midfielder Nicolo Rovella must sit this one out after collecting his third yellow card of the group stage against Celtic last time out, with his place likely to go to Danilo Cataldi.

Match odds

Atletico Madrid are the 3/5 favourites to win the game with Lazio priced at 9/2 to and the draw available at 3/1. Both teams to score comes in at 10/11 in this one with over 2.5 goals on offer at 5/6.

Atletico Madrid to win and both teams to score @ 5/2

There is little reason for either team to enter the game with a defensive mindset as Lazio have nothing to lose and everything to gain while Atleti will be playing to equal their longest consecutive home winning streak under Simeone.

This season's 10 straight victories at Wanda Metropolitano mean the hosts are big favourites to pick up all three points, but Lazio are streetwise and will aim to pose problems in counter-attack situations.

An early goal for the hosts would certainly make their task easier because the Serie A side have overturned only one deficit this season — in the 2-1 win at Celtic.

Both teams have scored in seven of Lazio's 10 away trips this term and, with eight of Atleti's 10 home games also seeing goals at both ends, it suggests the two goalkeepers will be beaten at some stage.

But the Rojiblancos' record at home speaks for itself and Lazio's recent away form, comprising three losses and a draw, points to Simeone's side getting the result they want.

Antoine Griezmann to score anytime @ 6/4

Griezmann has grabbed 13 goals already this season and, with four Champions League goals from five appearances so far, could eclipse his best-ever season's return in Europe.

He certainly shines brightly under the Wanda Metropolitano lights on big occasions like this when a crowd of over 60,000 is expected.

Griezmann has scored six goals in his last eight Champions League appearances at Atleti's home ground and will be hard to stop on Wednesday.

Check out our other Champions League betting tips here.