By Graham Ruthven
A title duel
Not so way back, it appeared Barcelona may run away with the Spanish title. Hansi Flick’s crew began the season strongly, profitable their opening seven league fixtures, blowing away opponents within the course of.
Since then, although, the Catalans have misplaced their method. Barca have received simply one among their final six league video games, opening the door for Actual Madrid and a resurgent Atlético Madrid to make their presence felt on the high of LaLiga.
Atleti’s season has had the alternative arc with Diego Simeone’s crew at present on an 11-game profitable run in all competitions after a troublesome begin to the marketing campaign which even had many questioning the Argentine manger’s future on the membership.
An away win for Atlético Madrid at Montjuïc would raise them above Barcelona within the desk and will make them title favourites such is the run of kind they’re on proper now.
Key gamers
Raphinha has been the shock bundle of the season to this point, registering an astonishing 17 purpose contributions (11 objectives and 6 assists) in simply 18 league appearances. The Brazilian has been unstoppable and will probably be a purpose risk this weekend.
Robert Lewandowski can also be having fun with a superb marketing campaign having notched 16 objectives in 17 league video games. Across the Polish striker, the likes of Dani Olmo and Pedri will give Barcelona invention by means of the midfield and into the ahead line.
In central midfield, Marc Casadó will probably be charged with holding all of it collectively for Barcelona as their quantity six. The teen might face a troublesome night up in opposition to the dynamic Atleti midfield pairing of Pablo Barrios and Rodrigo de Paul.
Atlético Madrid will hope to trigger some attacking issues of their very own with Julián Alvarez and Antoine Griezmann forging a powerful partnership as a entrance two in current weeks. They’ll have a lot house to use in behind Barca’s excessive defensive position.
Giuliano Simeone’s work ethic will probably be key to Atleti’s probabilities of stopping the specter of Raphinha down the left aspect. On the again, José Giménez and Clément Lenglet might want to preserve it tight to provide the guests a strong defensive basis.
Staff information
Lamine Yamal will probably be unavailable for Saturday’s match with {the teenager} set for one more interval on the sidelines after sustaining ligament harm within the residence defeat to Leganés. With out the Euro 2024 winner, Barca generally lack creativity within the attacking third.
Marc Bernal, Andreas Christensen and Marc-André ter Stegen will even be lacking for the house aspect as long-term absentees. In any other case, Flick has a totally match squad to select from.
Stories in Spain declare Simeone experimented with a 4-5-1 form in a coaching sport in the course of the week, hinting at a possible tactical shift by the longterm supervisor for Saturday’s showdown.
Prediction
With the burden of expectation round this match, we’re anticipating objectives, and for each groups to carry out. However we additionally assume that the house aspect could reassert their title credentials: Barcelona 2-1 Atlético Madrid.
(Cowl picture from IMAGO)
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