Inter vs Atletico Madrid prediction, odds, betting tips, best bets for Champions League first leg in Milan

One of the most intriguing early matchups of this year's Champions League knockout stage begins on Tuesday as last year's finalists Inter Milan welcome Atletico Madrid to the San Siro.

In previous years, this would be considered likely to result in a defensive chess match, but this season's Atletico Madrid is a far cry from previous Diego Simeone teams, and thus it presents instead a mouth-watering clash of styles.

Inter are possibly this season's most skilled grinders, able to repeatedly prevail in mucked-up matches. They have yet to lose in Champions League play, but their six group stage results (three wins and three draws) sport a combined goal differential of just +3, meaning they have thrived in close games.

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Atletico Madrid, meanwhile, have embraced a new high-flying style, topping their Champions League group behind 17 total goals in six games, including a 6-0 win over Celtic and 3-1 victory over Feyenoord. They come into this match on the heels of a 5-0 win over Las Palmas in La Liga play, and have gone toe-to-toe with Real Madrid on numerous occasions this season domestically.

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While Atletico Madrid are capable of scoring in bunches, they are also too prone to empty 90-minute performances. Since the start of December, they've been shut out on four different occasions, including three in league play.

Simone Inzaghi is a master of muck, with Inter conceding just 12 goals in Serie A this season, fewer than any Big 5 club in league play. Additionally, while they concede around 10 shots per game, those opportunities for opponents are minimal at best, with their 0.08 xG per shot