Arsenal vs Atletico Madrid Bet Builder Tips: Tackles on top as Alvarez threatens again

Atletico Madrid and Arsenal played out a 1-1 draw in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League semi-final tie at the Metropolitano Stadium last Wednesday, leaving everything to play for in Tuesday's return fixture at the Emirates Stadium (20:00 BST, Prime Video).

Below are my Arsenal vs Atletico Madrid Bet Builder Tips, where I have combined four selections offering a 13/2 payout.

1st Half Total Goals Over/Under 1.5 - Under 1.5

Last week's first leg was a cagey affair, despite both teams getting on the scoresheet.

Both goals were scored from the penalty spot, and once again, I'm not expecting many clear-cut opportunities from open play, particularly in the first half, with both sides known for their risk-adverse tactics.

All three goals in Arsenal's 3-0 win over Fulham last Saturday were scored in the first half, but in each of their two previous games, including last week's first leg against Atletico, just one was struck before the interval.

Atletico, meanwhile, were drawing 0-0 at half-time of their 2-0 win at Valencia on Saturday, marking their third consecutive game with under 1.5 first-half goals.

All five of Arsenal's knockout phase matches have failed to see multiple first-half goals, while three of Atletico's last four in Europe have failed to see more than one goal before half-time.

Matteo Ruggeri (ATM) Total Tackles - 3+

Atletico left-back Matteo Ruggeri has really stepped up his defensive game in the latter stages of the Champions League, making nine tackles across his side's quarter-final tie with FC Barcelona (four, five) before recording another four in the first leg of their semi-final tie with Arsenal last week.

Noni Madueke started on the right-hand side of Arsenal's attack in Madrid, with Bukayo Saka replacing his fellow England international in the 68th minute.

Saka is set to start in place of Madueke at the Emirates Stadium, so Ruggeri will have to be even sharper from the get-go of Tuesday's second leg.

Having easily cleared three tackles in his last three European outings, I'm backing the Italian to make at least three in north London this week.

Atletico Madrid vs Arsenal Odds

Declan Rice (ARS) Total Tackles - 2+

This was a successful selection in last week's Atletico vs Arsenal Bet Builder Tips, and I'm going to the well again for Tuesday's second leg.

Rice has now recorded exactly two tackles in each of his two appearances against Atletico this season, and we can expect him to be fired up for this third instalment as the Gunners eye a first Champions League Final since 2006.

Julian Alvarez (ATM) Total Shots on Target - 1+

Atletico striker Julian Alvarez scored his 10th Champions League goal of the campaign in last week's first leg, with only Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappe (15) and Bayern Munich's Harry Kane (13) netting more times in European football's premier club cup competition.

Unsurprisingly, only Mbappe (28) and Kane (24) have registered more shots on target in this season's competition than Alvarez (20), who is averaging 1.8 per 90.

The 26-year-old recorded two shots on target against Arsenal in Madrid, making it five successive European outings with at least one, and I'm backing the Argentine to either score or force the home side's goalkeeper, David Raya, into a save on Tuesday.

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