Champions League Odds & Picks: Atalanta vs. Valencia Betting Preview, Prediction (February 19, 2020)

Valencia at Atalanta Betting Odds

• Valencia odds: +450
• Atalanta odds: -182
• Draw: +325
• Over/Under: 2.5 (-179/+134)
• Time: 3 p.m. ET
• TV: B/R Live

Odds as of Wednesday morning and via DraftKings. Get up to a $1,000 sign-up bonus at DraftKings today or see more offers and reviews for the best online sportsbooks.

The new kid on the block against the seasoned veteran.

That’s the exact scenario we have Wednesday when Atalanta hosts Valencia in the first leg of their Champions League matchup in the Round of 16 knockout stage.

Atalanta, which currently sits in fourth place in Italy’s Serie A, has been on a dream Champions League run into in the tournament’s knockout stage in its first-ever appearance. The club earned its spot here in thrilling style, knocking off Russian side Shakhtar Donetsk in its Group C finale to secure a second-place finish behind Manchester City.

Nicknamed "La Dea," Atalanta been in solid form in the midst of this Champions League tear, putting together a 9-3-2 record in their last 14 matches across all competitions. You also have to love Atalanta’s ability to find the back of the net at home, where it has only been shut out once in 18 matches across all competitions. Most recently, Atalanta is unbeaten in its last four games and its 58.2 expected goals ranks No. 1 in all of Italy’s first division. In contrast, Valencia ranks seventh in La Liga with 33.28 expected goals.

Atalanta also made Champions League history when it became the first team to qualify for the knockout round after suffering losses in three consecutive matches to open the group stage.

Atalanta vs. Valencia Trends and Stats

• Atalanta has just one defeat in its last seven home matches
• This will be the first meeting ever between the legendary clubs
• Valencia has endured defeats in three of its last five road matches across all competitions
• Atalanta has won five of its last seven home matches across all competitions, good enough for a 5-1-1 record

And while things have been going well in Italy, the same can’t be said for Valencia. The Spanish La Liga side, back in the knockout round for the first time since the 2012-13 competition, is winless in its last three matches across all competitions. Most recently, "Los Che" scratched out a 2-2 draw against Atletico Madrid, which handed Liverpool a 1-0 defeat on Tuesday in the first match of its two-leg battle.

Perhaps the ugliest stat Valencia, which sits in seventh in the La Liga standings, is saddled with entering the showdown is the fact it is winless in nine previous tries in knockout-round road matches. To compound things, Los Che gave up at least one goal in eight of those games that resulted in five losses and four draws.

Valencia, which has made the tournament six of the last 10 years, is also likely to be without several key players due to various reasons, including standout defenders Ezequiel Garay and Gabriel Paulista. That should allow Atalanta to expose the Spanish side in the defensive third of the pitch and dictate things throughout on Italian soil.

That all said, I love Atalanta in this match. La Dea is in much better form and will have the home crowd backing it during this historic Champions League run.

Unlike its start to the group stage, I fully expect Atalanta to control things from the outset and dominate the festivities en route to the win. The market seems to be in agreement with since the Italian side has taken money, so be sure to shop for the best number!

The Bet(s): Atalanta (-182); Both Teams To Score: Yes (-157)

[Bet now at DraftKings. NJ, PA, IN and WV only.]