Barcelona vs Atletico Madrid predictions and match preview for Sunday’s LaLiga fixture. Read on for analysis, team news and predicted lineups as two of the big guns clash at Camp Nou.
| Date | Sunday 23rd April 2023 |
| Kick-Off | 16:15 (CEST) |
| Stadium | Camp Nou |
| Competition | LaLiga |
Barcelona vs Atletico Madrid Preview
This is the big one at the top this weekend in LaLiga and it’ll be a good test of where both sides are at. Barcelona are limping towards the title but will want to put in a good show here to silence some of their recent doubters while Atleti are bidding to prove their recent resurgence is real by claiming their first league win at Camp Nou in the Diego Simeone era.
Barcelona come into the game after two uninspiring 0-0 draws against Girona and Getafe. With such an advantage at the top, they could probably be forgiven for taking their foot off the gas slightly with the title inevitably heading their way. However some of the issues we’ve seen do feel much more than that, with a lack of depth in certain areas exposed during the absences of some key players.
They have both Pedri and Frenkie de Jong fit again here and Xavi must decide whether to throw them back into the starting eleven or use them off the bench. That should help them in terms of creativity and imagination in the middle of the park but they’ll want a bit more from their forwards too with Robert Lewandowski still looking a bit out of sorts.
Arguably the best forward, and perhaps best player in LaLiga right now, is a former Barcelona man who will be lining up for the opposition here. Antoine Griezmann, who started the season only able to play 30 minute bursts for contractual reasons, has emerged as the leader of Atletico Madrid’s resurgence in 2023. It’s safe to say he will be extremely motivated to put in a big performance back on his old ground where he never really produced his best football.
For Atleti and Diego Simeone, this match represents a chance to show that they are a genuine force again and they could potentially lay down a marker ahead of the 2023/24 season when they’ll hope to mount a stronger title challenge. There is suddenly a clarity to Atleti when it comes to their best eleven and system, although there’ll have to be a minor reshuffle here with Marcos Llorente suspended.
Team News & Possible Lineups
Barcelona
| INJURED | Christensen, Roberto |
| DOUBTFUL | Dembele |
| BANNED |
Possible XI: Ter Stegen – Balde, Eric Garcia, Araujo, Kounde – De Jong, Busquets, Pedri – Gavi, Lewandowski, Raphinha (4-3-3)
Coach: Xavi
Atletico Madrid
| INJURED | Reinildo |
| DOUBTFUL | Depay |
| BANNED | Kondogbia, Llorente |
Possible XI: Oblak – Hermoso, Gimenez, Savic – Carrasco, Koke, De Paul, Llorente, Molina – Correa, Griezmann (3-5-2)
Coach: Diego Simeone
Score Prediction: Barcelona 0-0 Atletico Madrid
The two best defences in LaLiga meet here with a combined record of 30 goals conceded from 58 games highlighting how we aren’t likely to see many chances in this one. Much will depend on how bold Atleti are willing to be but if they adopt a relatively cautious gameplan as you’d expect in such a fixture, a low or no scoring draw will become a real possibility.
PLEASE NOTE – Our LaLiga predictions are not betting tips! No profits are guaranteed if you’re using them to bet on Spanish football. If you are gambling, do so responsibly and never stake more than you can afford to lose. BeGambleAware.
