Barcelona and Atletico Madrid performed out a captivating 4-4 draw final month in Catalonia as they locked horns within the first leg of their Copa del Rey semi-final tie.
They face one another as soon as once more on Sunday, in La Liga this time, on the Riyadh Air Metropolitano in Madrid, and it’s clear that quite a bit rides on the consequence that performs out on the venue.
Each groups have been in imperious type this season and have been within the driver’s seat within the title race all alongside. Whereas Barcelona suffered a mid-season droop, Atletico Madrid have been largely constant however have faltered barely in latest outings.
could have huge implications on how the remainder of the season performs out for each groups and could be one of the vital necessary remaining video games in La Liga aside from El Clasico.
Barça Common brings you three speaking factors forward of Atletico Madrid vs Barcelona.
A query of mentality
Whereas each Barcelona and Atletico Madrid have had largely comparable calendars to date this season, each groups enter tomorrow’s recreation with vastly completely different mentalities and states of thoughts.
Hansi Flick’s aspect, couldn’t have hoped for a greater run of type to be on forward of the conflict in opposition to Los Rojiblancos, as they arrive contemporary off an enormous victory over Benfica that gave them a spot within the quarterfinal of the UEFA Champions League.
Atletico Madrid, in the meantime, face the polar reverse scenario as they have been eradicated from the competitors by Actual Madrid. What makes their scenario worse is the way during which they misplaced, particularly with a controversial VAR involvement within the penalty shootout.
One crucial issue that may resolve the consequence tomorrow, thus, is the mentality with which each side descend to the sphere. In any case, it stays to be seen if the hosts are out to avenge their defeat midweek or nonetheless within the shock of the consequence.
Concurrently, nonetheless, one can not assist however word that Atletico Madrid are coming off a recreation that sucked the life out of the squad with 120 minutes of draining soccer. That, mixed with the 24 hours further relaxation that Barcelona have, might effectively show decisive.
One for the title race
Heading into the twenty eighth match of the season, Barcelona have La Liga in management with each Madrid-based sides slipping up in latest weeks.
Tomorrow night time is without doubt one of the events the place the Catalans can straight take factors off their competitor and thus set up a superior lead and it’s not possible to have a look at the sport on the Metropolitano with out having an eye fixed on the desk.
Barcelona are presently on 57 factors in La Liga, one level forward of Los Rojiblancos with an additional recreation in hand. A win over Diego Simeone’s aspect tomorrow will thus take them 4 factors clear with a recreation in hand, implying a distinction as massive as seven factors.
Given the present stage of the season, that could be the top of the street for Atletico Madrid within the league title race and thus will assist Barcelona solidify their benefit.
Whereas Actual Madrid should still be comparatively shut within the standings, being degree on factors with Los Blancos with a recreation in hand is a bonus that can’t be ignored as effectively.
All eyes tomorrow night time, thus, can be on stabilising the scenario in La Liga and going residence with one direct competitor considerably behind on the standings.
Classes to be learnt
Barcelona and Atletico Madrid have confronted off twice this season and neither recreation is especially price remembering from a Blaugrana fan’s perspective.
From a pure footballing sense, each video games have been joyous to witness as Flick’s males outdid the Madrid-based aspect’s defence time and time once more and generated steady waves of assaults on each nights.
Nevertheless, they didn’t win on both event and it’s protected to say that they made the identical mistake on each nights – slacking out on the tail finish of the sport.
Barcelona conceded a late Alexander Sorloth winner in opposition to Atletico Madrid at Montjuic in La Liga in December and gave away valuable factors.
Final month, they confronted off on the similar venue within the Copa del Rey and as soon as once more slacked out within the remaining ten minutes to permit Los Rojiblancos to take residence a 4-4 draw that ought to effectively have been a Barcelona win.
Taking to the sphere on the Metropolitano tomorrow night time, is blown in order to make sure Atletico Madrid don’t discover any late inroads into the sport.
Additionally equally necessary, evidently, is to make sure that they take their possibilities and are simpler in entrance of Jan Oblak’s purpose.