Barcelona host Atletico Madrid in the first leg of the Champions League quarterfinals, seeking revenge for being knocked out from Atletico two years ago.
The eyes of the football world will be on the Camp Nou once again in only three days. After the first Catalonia vs Castile derby played on Saturday, Barcelona host Atletico Madrid in the first leg of the Champions League quarterfinals.
Even though Barcelona still have six points ahead of Atletico and seven ahead of Real Madrid, no one in Barcelona is too happy with defeat against Real Madrid just three days before the Atletico game.
Luis Enrique undoubtedly has better players, probably even the better team, but everything is possible in the Champions League. MSN trio will have to be in much better form than in El Clasico if they want to better Simeone’s warriors.
The Madridians are playing yet another great season. Many expected Simeone’s wall to break down, but it seems they’re only getting better and better. In the last five games in the La Liga, the Rojiblancos showed four impressive performances scoring three goals against Valencia, Deportivo and Real Sociedad, and five in the last game against Real Betis.
The only wrong step was trip to Gijon where Sporting surprised Simeone’s troops and probably took away from them a chance to fight for the title until the last round. Antoine Griezmann is playing in great form, scoring in six consecutive games in the Primera Division. The Frenchman also scored for his national team against Netherlands so Pique and Mascherano must be extra careful with him.
Even though they lost last six games against Barcelona, Atletico is not without a chance. Zinedine Zidane showed Simeone how to stop Messi, Neymar and Suarez. It is expected Atletico would form even denser block than Real players did and hope that MSN still aren’t at their best since returning from international duties.
Head to Head
Barcelona and Atletico have played 222 games and Barcelona have been much more successful with 100 victories compared to Atletico’s 71. Barca is also currently on a six win streak against the Madridians, but the last time those two met in the Champions League, Atletico passed. It was two years ago, also in the quarterfinals when Diego was Atletico’s hero with amazing long-range shot.
Match Facts
- Barcelona have won their last six games against Atlético Madrid in all competitions. A seventh consecutive win would be a record for the Blaugranas in their head-to-head history with the Colchoneros.
- Barcelona have only kept one clean sheet in 12 Champions League/European Cup games against Spanish opposition, that was against Real Madrid at the Bernabeu in April 2011.
- Meanwhile, Atlético have never scored more than one goal in their eight Champions League/European Cup encounters with Spanish clubs.
- Atlético Madrid have kept 13 clean sheets in their last 17 Champions League games.
- However, Diego Simeone’s men have failed to find the net in their last 453 minutes of action in the Champions League knockout stages.
- Messi has scored 25 goals in 28 games against Atlético Madrid, his favourite opponent alongside Sevilla.
- Atlético goalkeeper Jan Oblak has conceded only four goals in 11 Champions League games since 2015.
Team News
Luis Enrique has been extremely lucky whole season with his key players have been avoiding injuries. Only absentees for this game are Mathieu, Adriano and Sandro who anyway wouldn’t be in the starting eleven.
Unlike Enrique, Simeone’s been loosing sleep over fitness of Godin, Savic and Jose Gimenez. As if that’s not enough Yanick Carrasco is still out due to ankle injury, while Saul Niguez is doubtful.
Predicted Lineups
Barcelona: Ter Stegen; Alves, Pique, Mascherano, Alba; Rakitic, Busquets, Iniesta; Messi, Suarez, Neymar
Atletico Madrid: Oblak; Juanfran, Godin, Lucas, Filipe Luis; Gabi, Saul, Augusto, Koke; Torres, Griezmann.
From : SS.com
