Atletico Madrid host La Liga leaders Barcelona at the Metropolitano Stadium on Saturday evening.
They lost 3-2 to local rivals Real Madrid last time out, ending their four-game league winning streak.
Barcelona claimed a 1-0 victory over Rayo Vallecano, extending their winning run in La Liga to five matches. Barca fans following football live scores have been gaining confidence in their team as the season has progressed, with the visiting team now expected to win the league title.
Match preview
Atletico are pushing to secure Champions League qualification. They are 13 points clear of fifth-placed Real Betis.
They have already faced Barcelona three times this season, winning one and losing twice. Both sides will also meet in the Champions League quarter-final.
Their only victory – a 4-0 win in the first leg of the Copa del Rey semi-final – was enough to secure a place in the final, despite a 3-0 second leg loss.
Diego Simeone’s side have picked up 40 points from 15 home games this season, with only Barcelona picking up more (45).
However, they have lost their last three league home games against Barcelona. The last time they lost four on a row was between the 1965/66 and 1968/69 seasons.
Atletico will look to exploit Barcelona’s high defensive line, while maintaining a compact defensive shape.
Julian Alvarez is Atletico’s most decisive forward. He boasts a good record against Barcelona, scoring three goals and providing two assists in seven appearances.
Despite little at stake given their league position relative to the visitors, Simeone is expected to name a strong starting line-up.
Title challengers have always followed their rivals’ live football scores during the crunch phase of the season. With a defeat, Barcelona could be just one point adrift of second-placed Madrid before this clash, which could pile more pressure on them.
Hansi Flick’s side have collected 28 points from 14 away matches — the second-best record in the division. However, they have lost two of their last four.
The defending champions have won seven and lost just one of their last eight league meetings with Atletico.
They head into this clash as the most in-form team in the division, having picked up 15 points from their last six games.
Barcelona are expected to dominate possession and use the trickery and pace of their wingers to break down Atletico’s defence.
Lamine Yamal is looking to score for the second time against the hosts. He netted in the corresponding fixture last season.
Barcelona will need to defend better and be clinical to emerge victorious in Saturday’s showdown.
Team news
Atletico will be without Marcos Llorente and Johnny Cardoso due to suspension.
Simeone has also confirmed that goalkeeper Jan Oblak, Marc Pubill, Rodrigo Mendoza, and Pablo Barrios will miss this encounter due to injury.
For Barcelona, Raphinha, Andreas Christensen and Frenkie de Jong due are sidelined.
Alejandro Balde and Jules Kounde have returned to training, but whether they will make the trip is unknown.
Predicted line-ups
Atletico Madrid (4-4-2): Juan Musso, Nahuel Molina, David Hancko, Jose Maria Gimenez, Mateo Ruggeri, Koke, Alex Baena, Giuliano Simeone, Ademola Lookman, Antoine Griezmann, Julian Alvarez.
Barcelona (4-3-3): Joan Garcia, Joao Cancelo, Ronaldo Araujo, Pau Cubarsi, Gerard Martin, Marc Bernal, Pedri, Fermin Lopez, Marcus Rashford, Lamine Yamal, Robert Lewandowski.
Prediction
We expect a cagey encounter, but Barcelona’s attacking prowess gives them the edge. We predict a 2-1 win for Flick’s side.
Stats from whoscored.com & transfermarkt.com
