Barcelona hold a 2–1 aggregate advantage against visiting Atlético Madrid as they continue their chase for a third straight Copa del Rey title.
FC Barcelona have a chance to secure their spot in the Copa del Rey Final for the fourth consecutive season, and to become the first team in over half a century to lift the trophy three times in a row. The 2-1 lead from the Vicente Calderón gives Barcelona plenty of reasons for optimism, and in fact any of the last sixteen results at home to Atlético Madrid in all competitions would be enough to ensure passage to the final against Celta or Alavés.
It seems like Barca have recovered from a dip in form during the end of last year. Barca are undefeated since 5 January, when they dropped their opening match of 2017, a 2–1 loss at Athletic Club in the first leg of the Copa del Rey last 16. Since then, the Catalans have harvested seven wins and two draws from an alternating schedule of La Liga and Copa del Rey fixtures, including home return-leg knockout blows to Athletic Club followed by Real Sociedad in the quarterfinals. Barça’s most recent game was a 3–0 La Liga triumph over Athletic Club on Saturday at Camp Nou.
Barcelona scored a total of 25 goals in the last nine matches and conceded just 6. However, scoring goals was not an issue for Barca, if you look at the league table they are on top of the scoring charts with 55 goals from 21 games.
Atlético Madrid also won their La Liga match over the weekend, dispatching visiting Leganes, 2–0, at the Estadio Vicente Calderón on Saturday evening. Last week’s 2–1 first-leg loss to Barça at the Calderón snapped what had been a five-game unbeaten streak, which included two wins in a row followed by three straight draws.
The 2-0 win against Leganes at home last weekend is Atletico Madrid’s first in five matches in all competitions. They lost one and drew three during the period. This has been a poor season by their recent standards. They will need to be positive here to try and get back into the tie and we should see a relatively open game as a result.
Barça are looking to eliminate Los Colchoneros from the Copa del Rey for the second time in three seasons. They previously knocked out Atlético in the quarterfinals of the 2014/15 edition.
Tuesday’s Cup clash will be the third meeting between the two clubs this season after a 1–1 draw at Camp Nou in LaLiga on 21 September and last week’s 2–1 Barça victory in the first leg in Madrid.
Barcelona
Rafinha (broken nose) and Neymar (yellow card accumulation) will not participate in this match, while midfielders Sergio Busquets (ankle) and Andrés Iniesta (calf) have yet to get the green light to return to action, but they did train on Monday and it remains to be seen whether they will be included in the squad, let alone vie for minutes on Tuesday night.
Atletico Madrid
Gabi is suspended for the visitors. Fernanado Torres is hoping to keep his place up front after netting a brace in the league at the weekend. Yannick Carrasco and Kevin Gameiro could be recalled though.
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