MADRID - Atletico Madrid will once again have to rely on their formidable home form as they look to overcome a 1-0 first leg deficit against Bayer Leverkusen to reach the quarterfinals of the Champions League today.

Last season's beaten finalists have failed to win a game since falling to Hakan Calhanoglu's stunning strike at the Bay Arena three weeks ago.

However, they have won 20 of their last 22 European games at the Vicente Calderon, including wins in all three of their group games earlier this season without conceding a goal.

Another clean sheet is likely to be in order if Diego Simeone's men are to progress to the last eight with goals of their own in short supply in recent weeks.

"In football there are moments in a season where sometimes you are more deadly in front of goal than others. Sometimes the goal comes easily and other time you have loads of good chances and it doesn't go in," said Simeone after Saturday's 0-0 draw away at Espanyol.

"We need to keep going, roll up our sleeves and work hard because that is the only way we know how to improve."

Simeone will also be without two of his most experienced campaigners in Diego Godin and Tiago through suspension.

However, top scorer Mario Mandzukic is expected to return to the starting line-up for the first time since defeat in Leverkusen.

In contrast to Atletico's slump in form, Leverkusen come into the game full of confidence having won their last five games without even conceding a goal.

The Germans could even have put the tie to bed at home with a series of promising counter-attacks that lacked the final finish.