Atletico look to turn their fortunes

Madrid, December 10

Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone recently compared his side’s no-frills style to pizza, but as his side prepare for a do-or-die Champions League match with Lokomotiv Moscow amid a dire run of results, the toppings taste bland and the crust feels stale.

The Spaniards must beat Lokomotiv at home on Wednesday to guarantee their place in the last-16 of Europe’s elite competition, or match Bayer Leverkusen’s result against Juventus, who have already qualified as Group D winners. Atletico have only one victory in their last eight games in all competitions.

Bayern ready for Spurs

Berlin: Hailed as one of the “best players of his generation”, versatile Canadian teenager Alphonso Davies started life in a refugee camp, but is now starring for Bayern Munich. The Germans are already through to the last-16 as Group B winners and could become the first German club to win all six of their group matches when they host Tottenham. — Agencies