Barcelona vs Atletico Madrid Preview: Team News & Prediction
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‘Hay Liga’ is the phrase being used in Spain in what is a three, potentially four, team title race in La Liga and two of those sides, Barcelona and Atletico Madrid, now meet in Catalonia.
Kick-off date/time: Saturday 21st December, 2024: UK – 8:00pm / US ET – 3:00pm / US PT – 12:00pm
How to watch on TV: UK – Premier Sports / US – ESPN have the exclusive rights to La Liga games in the USA, so Barcelona vs Atletico Madrid may be televised on one of their affiliated channels
How to watch online: UK – Premier Sports / US – ESPN+
Barcelona Preview: Struggling Blaugrana
Hansi Flick’s reign started extremely well with Barcelona rampant at the start of the season but as the Blaugrana continue to impress in the UEFA Champions League, Barca have wobbled quite a lot in La Liga and given up a position where they looked like they might run away with it.
They come into this one on the back of a shock 1-0 defeat at home to Leganes at Estadi Olympic Lluis Companys last weekend thanks to a fourth minute winner from Sergio Gonzalez. They have now managed just one win in their last six matches in the league.
Atletico Madrid Preview: Rampant Los Rojiblancos
In contrast to Barca, Atletico Madrid had been pretty unimpressive, albeit steady, at the start of this season and Diego Simeone was perhaps coming under more pressure than he ever had at the Metropolitano but Los Rojiblancos have turned things around and then some.
The visitors edged past Getafe by a goal to nil in a Madrid derby last weekend thanks to a 69th minute strike from Norway international Alexander Sorloth. That means they have now 11 victories across all competitions as they propel themselves into the title race.
Barcelona Team News: No Lamine Yamal
Barcelona have a worrying over reliance on 17-year-old Lamine Yamal and the Spain international is now unavailable due to a knee injury. He remains sidelined alongside key men such as Marc-Andre ter Stegen and Marc Bernal.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Inaki Pena; Kounde, Eric Garcia, Inigo Martinez, Alex Balde; Marc Casado, Pedri; Ferran Torres, Dani Olmo, Raphinha; Lewandowski
Unavailable: Ter Stegen (Injured), Christensen (Injured), Marc Bernal (Injured), Lamine Yamal (Injured)
Questionable: Ansu Fati (Injured)
Atletico Madrid Team News: Fully fit
Atletico Madrid have rotated quite a lot and quite well throughout the campaign and they are expected to do so once again this weekend. They can name their absolute strongest eleven with a fully fit and available squad for this one.
Predicted XI (4-4-2): Oblak; Marcos Llorente, Jose Maria Gimenez, Lenglet, Javi Galan; Giuliano Simeone, De Paul, Pablo Barrios, Gallagher; Griezmann, Julian Alvarez
Unavailable:
Questionable:
Barcelona vs Atletico Madrid Prediction
Barcelona have been playing with a high line throughout the campaign and that helped them produce impressive hammerings of Real Madrid and Bayern Munich in October but teams have begun to exploit that quite well. Atletico appear to have turned a corner in terms of their style of football of late so are likely to be quite front foot and will fancy their chances of getting in behind. A double chance bet in favour of the visitors would appear a good value bet for this one in the Catalan capital.
Barcelona vs Atletico Madrid Tip: Double chance – Atletico Madrid to win or draw
