Barcelona and Atletico Madrid go clash for Camp Nou on Tuesday as both sides aim boost title chances. Barcelona dey top table, while Atletico dey fourth, three points behind.
Match Preview
Barcelona never fully replicate last season form but dem still dey top after 14 La Liga matches. Under Hansi Flick, dem don win 11 games (D1, L2), including last four league matches after El Clasico loss to Real Madrid.
Dem beat Elche, Celta Vigo, Athletic Bilbao, then bounce back from Champions League loss to Chelsea with 3-1 home win over Deportivo Alaves. Barcelona concede within 43 seconds, but Lamine Yamal score, and Dani Olmo brace seal 3-1 win. Dem extend unbeaten run against Alaves to 16 La Liga matches.
Barcelona have 39 goals – top scorers in La Liga – giving them firepower to break Atletico’s strong defence. Dem look for seventh win in eight head-to-head league meetings.
Atletico start slow with three wins, four draws, one loss from first eight games. But dem win last six league matches, showing serious title ambitions. Dem also beat Inter Milan 2-1 in Champions League and Real Oviedo 2-0 in La Liga.
Alexander Sorloth brace move Simeone level with Real Madrid legend Miguel Munoz for second-most La Liga wins as manager (323). Simeone look for 324th top-flight win against Barcelona.
Atletico also aim second consecutive away league win at Camp Nou after Sorloth 96th-minute winner in December 2024.
Team News
Barcelona miss Marc-Andre ter Stegen, Gavi, Fermin Lopez (calf), and likely Ronald Araujo (illness). Eric Garcia fit play despite half-time exit vs Alaves, while Frenkie de Jong returns. Expected lineup: Garcia; Kounde, Garcia, Cubarsi, Balde; De Jong, Pedri; Yamal, Olmo, Raphinha; Lewandowski.
Atletico miss Marcos Llorente (thigh) and Robin Le Normand (knee). Simeone fit recall Jose Maria Gimenez, Matteo Ruggeri, Pablo Barrios, Johnny Cardoso, Giuliano Simeone. Koke likely in midfield, Julian Alvarez over Sorloth despite weekend brace. Expected lineup: Oblak; Molina, Gimenez, Hancko, Ruggeri; Cardoso; Simeone, Barrios, Koke, Baena; Alvarez.
Prediction
We predict: Barcelona 2-2 Atletico Madrid. Barcelona go try leverage home advantage, but Atletico dey confident after recent run and dem go manage to take a point from Camp Nou.
