Barcelona vs Atletico Madrid - LaLiga team news and prediction
This weekend will be pivotal in the LaLiga title race as Barcelona host Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid take on Sevilla. Six points separate the top four with four games to play with the title race set to go to the wire.
Ahead of Saturday's game at Camp Nou, we provide all the need-to-know pre-match information, including what time the game kicks off, where to watch the match, team news and probable XIs.
When is kick off?
Saturday 8th May, 15:15 GMT
Where is the match?
Camp Nou, Barcelona
What TV channel is it on?
LaLiga TV
Form Guide
Two defeats in their last five leaves Barcelona two points behind Atletico Madrid in this key weekend in the LaLiga title race. That said, nine wins in their last 11 is a fine record for a Barcelona side that had struggled in the opening weeks of Ronald Koeman's tenure. Remarkably, a win over Atletico today will see the Blaugrana go top for the first time this season.
Just as it seemed Atletico would ease to the LaLiga title, their form dipped at just the wrong time. A run of seven wins in 15 since the beginning of February has opened up a title race in Spain and the question now is whether Los Colchoneros can hold their nerve in the coming weeks. Unfortunately for the LaLiga leaders, they haven't won at Camp Nou since a Fernando Torres inspired 3-1 win in 2006.
Team News
Ronald Koeman is unlikely to make wholesale changes to his favoured XI for the welcome of Atletico Madrid, but is without Ansu Fati and Coutinho, though the pair haven't featured since November and December, respectively. Martin Braithwaite will be assessed, however the Dane would not have started anyway.
Jose Gimenez is a doubt for the away side, but the Uruguayan is expected to play through the pain barrier and start in a three-man defence for Diego Simeone's side. Renan Lodi also carrying the knock, yet was not expected to feature from the get go, with Yannick Carrasco, who scored the only goal of the game in the reverse fixture, Simeone's go-to at left wing-back. Luis Suarez is line to start against his former employers.
Probable XIs
Barcelona (352) - Ter Stegen; Araujo, Pique, Lenglet; Roberto, De Jong, Busquets, Pedri, Alba; Griezmann, Messi
Atletico Madrid (352) - Oblak; Savic, Gimenez, Hermoso; Trippier, Llorente, Koke, Lemar, Carrasco, Suarez, Correa
Key Battle: Lionel Messi vs Luis Suarez
MSN was the famed attacking trio that delivered plenty of success for Barcelona, with two of the three players from that triumvirate set to face off at Camp Nou. Much has been made of Lionel Messi's future with the Blaugrana and while he is believed to be having an "off" season, the Argentine star has been superb for Ronald Koeman's side.
28 goals and nine assists is an exceptional return for a Barcelona side as disjointed as this, while Messi has been named the WhoScored man of the match in 21 of his 32 league outings this season. Messi has also scored 26 goals in 29 league outings against Atletico Madrid, so expect him to get among the goals today.
The exit of Luis Suarez angered Messi and understandably so. The Uruguayan missed the reverse fixture - a 1-0 win at the Wanda Metropolitano - having tested positive for COVID-19, but he is expected to start against his former employers. Suarez has enjoyed a solid debut campaign in Madrid, netting 19 times for Diego Simeone's side, and he'd love nothing more than to add to that at his old stomping ground and prove that Barcelona were too quick to show him the Camp Nou exit.
Score Prediction: Barcelona 2-2 Atletico Madrid
