Atletico Madrid and Barcelona have both secured their spots in the Champions League quarter-finals this week, setting the stage for a showdown in La Liga this Sunday.
While Atletico Madrid has shown inconsistency lately, their struggles have primarily occurred away from home. They boast an impressive record at home and have the chance to narrow the gap with Barcelona to just two points this weekend, despite losing their last three encounters against the Catalan giants by a narrow margin of 1-0.
On the other hand, Barcelona has seen a resurgence since Xavi announced his departure at the end of the season, remaining undefeated in their last nine matches. Although they are not far from their Clasico rivals Real Madrid at the top of La Liga, their title aspirations seem distant due to their late surge.
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Here’s a preview of the Atletico Madrid vs Barcelona clash this Sunday.
Match Details:
– Location: Madrid, Spain
– Stadium: Metropolitano Stadium
– Date: Sunday, 17th March
– Kick-off Time: 20:00 GMT / 15:00 ET / 12:00 PT
– Referee: Jose Maria Sanchez Martinez
– VAR: Mario Melero Lopez
Head-to-Head Record (Last Five Games):
– Atletico Madrid: 1 win
– Barcelona: 4 wins
– Draws: 0
– Last Meeting: Barcelona 1-0 Atletico Madrid (3rd December 2023) – La Liga
Current Form (All Competitions):
Atletico Madrid:
– Atletico Madrid 2-1 Inter – 13/03/2024
– Cadiz 2-0 Atletico Madrid – 09/03/2024
– Atletico Madrid 2-1 Real Betis – 03/03/2024
– Athletic Club 3-0 Atletico Madrid – 29/02/2024
– Almeria 2-2 Atletico Madrid – 24/02/2024
Barcelona:
– Barcelona 3-1 Napoli – 12/03/2024
– Barcelona 1-0 Mallorca – 08/03/2024
– Athletic Club 0-0 Barcelona – 03/03/2024
– Barcelona 4-0 Getafe – 24/02/2024
– Napoli 1-1 Barcelona – 21/02/2024
Team News:
Atletico Madrid:
Diego Simeone faces few injury concerns ahead of Barcelona’s visit, with Jose Maria Gimenez and Thomas Lemar sidelined. Vitolo and Marcos Paulo remain long-term absentees.
Predicted Lineup (3-5-2):
Oblak; Savic, Witsel, Azpilicueta; Llorente, De Paul, Koke, Saul Niguez, Lino; Griezmann, Morata.
Barcelona:
Xavi has several key players out with injuries, including Frenkie de Jong, Pedri, and Gavi. Ferran Torres and Alejandro Balde are also sidelined, with Marcos Alonso potentially unavailable.
Predicted Lineup (4-3-3):
Ter Stegen; Kounde, Araujo, Cubarsi, Cancelo; Lopez, Christensen, Gundogan; Yamal, Lewandowski, Raphinha.
Prediction:
Atletico Madrid has been formidable at home, but Barcelona’s recent resurgence poses a challenge. Despite Barcelona’s defensive vulnerabilities, their midfield absences could be decisive. Prediction: Atletico Madrid 2-1 Barcelona.