Atletico Madrid vs Barcelona predictions, H2H and match preview for this Sunday’s match in La Liga. Read on for analysis and predicted line-ups as the sides that have finished 1st and 2nd in the last two seasons meet.
Atletico Madrid vs Barcelona Preview
This is arguably the biggest game of the season so far in La Liga. Atletico Madrid have still only lost once in the league but they are desperate for the kind of statement victory that would confirm they are still a force to be reckoned with. A first ever league win over Barça under Diego Simeone’s guidance would do just that.
Meanwhile Barcelona’s consistently unconvincing away displays have to improve if they are going enjoy any kind of success this term and a first victory at the Wanda Metropolitano for the Catalans would be a huge morale boost heading into the Clasico later in the month.
Atleti’s campaign has been a frustrating one but it still feels a bit premature to properly judge what kind of season they are going to end up having. On one hand, their lack of a goal threat is a very real concern. They are only averaging 1.14 goals per game in La Liga this term and only seven teams have worse records. Antoine Griezmann is likely to be in for a very frosty welcome on Sunday on his return to the Wanda but unquestionably they are missing his influence in the final third of the pitch. Despite those problems, this side still carries many of those typical ‘Atleti’ ingredients in that they boast the division’s joint best defensive record and remain very tough to beat.
Barcelona’s away performances this season don’t exactly suggest they are going to break Atleti down at will. Even against bottom club Leganes last weekend, they had to dig deep to secure a scrappy 2-1 win with the Catalans still looking devoid of a clear plan or identity when they travel away. A midweek Champions League win at Camp Nou did at least suggest things are starting to click a bit better in the final third with Messi, Suarez and Griezmann all on target and that does at least set them up nicely for this game.
A fresh injury setback for Ousmane Dembele means we are most likely going to see the so-called ‘MSG’ trident get an extended run during this key period in Barcelona’s league campaign with matches against both Madrid clubs in December. However Atleti will feel they can cause problems down the flanks in this game with Barcelona not looking great in the full-back areas with both Jordi Alba and Nelson Semedo sidelined.
Atletico Madrid vs Barcelona Predictions
Score Prediction: 1-1 Draw
This fixture doesn’t exactly have a track record of living up to the hype. Last year’s clash was a dour, cautious affair for eighty minutes before it burst into life at the end with a goal at each end. A draw looks the most likely outcome again here with Barcelona’s away record nowhere near good enough to suggest they will emerge victorious from such a tricky fixture. However Atleti’s failure to beat the Catalans in La Liga under Simeone combined with their poor goalscoring record this term suggests the hosts won’t be able to offer enough of a threat in the final third to get that elusive victory over Barça.
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We have match previews and predictions for every game in La Liga this season.
Atletico Madrid vs Barcelona H2H
- Last 6 competitive meetings: 3 Barcelona Wins, 3 Draws.
- Atleti have never beaten Barça in La Liga under Diego Simeone.
- 3 of the last 6 meetings have ended 1-1.
- That includes the only 2 previous meetings between the sides at the Wanda Metropolitano.
Predicted Line Ups
Atleti Team:
Oblak – Lodi, Hermoso, Felipe, Trippier – Felix, Thomas, Saul, Coke – Correa, Morata (4-4-2)
Barcelona Team:
Ter Stegen – Junior, Umtiti, Pique, Sergi Roberto – Vidal, de Jong, Arthur – Messi, Suarez, Griezmann (4-3-3)
Elsewhere in La Liga this Sunday
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Nice one