Team News: Full strength squads for season defining Barcelona-Atletico clash

The top two in La Liga go head-to-head this afternoon, both able to field their strongest XIs for a game that is sure to prove decisive in the title race.

Just five points now separate Barcelona and Atletico after the former could only draw for the third time in their last five league outings in midweek, while Diego Simeone’s side were rampant 4-0 winners over Leganes.

Antoine Griezmann scored all four goals against the strugglers to take his tally to seven in just two matches, which came close to doubling his league tally for the season.

EXPECTED ATLETICO LINE-UP

He will be joined up front by January returnee Diego Costa, while there was good news for the visitors in the week as Lucas Hernandez returned from a thigh injury.

With Stefan Savic missing out, the Frenchman’s competition for a starting berth, either with Jose Gimenez alongside Diego Godin or Felipe Luis on the left is the only question mark as to how Atleti will line-up.

Did you know?

Jan Oblak boasts the best save success rate in Europe’s top five leagues, saving 89% of the shots on target he has faced in La Liga this season.

Barcelona’s starting XI seems pretty assured too, with Philippe Coutinho having coming straight into the side following his arrival from Liverpool.

The Brazilian should start on the right ahead of compatriot Paulinho and the player whose club record fee he broke in January, Ousmane Dembele.

EXPECTED BARCELONA LINE-UP

Elsewhere Sergi Roberto will keep his place at right-back in the absence of the injured Nelson Semedo, but has done so more often than not regardless, with Ernesto Valverde and Simeone set to match up in their favoured 4-4-2 formations.

Did you know?

Lionel Messi has scored against Atletico Madrid in La Liga in ten of the previous 11 seasons in which he has faced them. He failed to score in the reverse fixture…