It’s a well-recognized foe in a special competitors, as Atlético de Madrid face FC Barcelona for the second time in 5 days.
, a heated and dramatic encounter in LALIGA, went Barcelona’s means. Now, with a spot within the UEFA Champions League semifinals at stake, count on an much more intense and fiercely-contested battle on this quarterfinal first leg, as Atlético discover themselves within the midst of a three-match shedding streak throughout arguably their hardest stretch of the season.
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Diego Simeone took a calculated danger in rotating in his “B-team” over the weekend in opposition to Hansi Flick’s aspect, and it virtually paid off earlier than Nico Gonzalez took issues into his personal palms (). Atlético had their possibilities however have been undone by Nico’s crimson card, adopted by an much more stunning overturn of a Gerard Martín crimson card.
The end result ought to give Simeone’s males some further confidence as their second squad performed a person down and defended like their lives have been on the road in opposition to a really sturdy Barcelona.
Los Colchoneros have been a combined bag within the Champions League. After ending the league part in 14th place, Simeone’s males have been drawn in opposition to Membership Brugge within the knockout playoff spherical, they usually went on to.
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Atlético got a lucky draw within the Spherical of 16 once they handed Tottenham Hotspur, who’re preventing relegation within the Premier League. The Rojiblancos and can now face one in every of their largest Spanish rivals within the final eight. Maybe most significantly, Atlético stole Tottenham’s home-field benefit and can get the return leg at house subsequent Tuesday.
It’s powerful to discover a hotter staff in Europe than Barcelona proper now. The Blaugrana are winners of 9 in a row in all competitions, highlighted by a 7-2 thrashing of Newcastle and a 3-0 victory on the Camp Nou in opposition to this similar Atlético squad within the Copa del Rey final month.
Saturday’s victory over Atlético noticed Barcelona go seven factors away from Actual Madrid and inch even nearer to a LALIGA title. The match was one the place Flick’s aspect ought to have gained by a number of objectives and obtained to relaxation key gamers forward of a important cup tie. It wasn’t. Barcelona couldn’t break via for a winner till the dying moments of the sport, when Robert Lewandowski shouldered house the dagger.
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Barcelona left Madrid with three factors, however they didn’t depart and not using a few bruises. Marc Bernal and Ronald Araújo each picked up accidents throughout the LALIGA conflict. Araújo seems able to go well with up, whereas Bernal shall be out for no less than the primary leg. Bernal will be part of Andreas Christensen, Frenkie de Jong and Raphinha in being dominated out for this matchup, whereas Lewandowski and Jules Koundé needs to be match sufficient to begin.
Workforce information
Simeone lastly obtained some excellent news on the damage entrance, as Marc Pubill, Rodri Mendoza and Jan Oblak with the group as regular. Nonetheless, Oblak was disregarded of the squad on Tuesday, whereas José María Giménez picked up a knock late within the weekend’s match and gained’t play both. Johnny Cardoso and Pablo Barrios are each out and recovering from their muscle accidents.
There’s a variety of about Barrios’ presence within the return leg. Given the dearth of accessible our bodies in midfield of late, this could be an enormous improvement for Atlétic0, assuming all goes to plan within the first leg.
Exterior of damage considerations, Simeone might want to make sure the under gamers train warning, particularly contemplating István Kovács would be the major referee for this matchup. If any of the under gamers obtain a yellow card, they may miss the return leg on the Metropolitano:
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Again in March, the Romanian referee got here underneath fireplace for the way he dealt with the derby between FC Fast București and FC Dinamo București. There have been 10 complete yellow playing cards, a VAR non-intervention on a purpose that ought to have been disallowed for a transparent foul, and the gamers and managers from each side considered he misplaced management of the match within the dying moments. It’s additionally value noting that he issued 18 playing cards in a UEFA Euro 2024 match between the Czech Republic and Turkey.
It might seem that Simeone continues to be about who to begin at RCB/RB. At RCB/RB, the person in black is deciding between Le Normand and Nahuel Molina. If Le Normand begins, Pubill will play right-back. If Molina begins, Pubill performs at proper center-back. Le Normand defended pretty effectively on Saturday, exterior of shedding Marcus Rashford on the equalizing purpose, whereas Molina didn’t defend very effectively however offers Atleti an additional attacking choice on the fitting. The from Molina within the month of March ought to give the Argentine a great deal of confidence.
Potential 11: Musso; Molina, Pubill, Hancko, Ruggeri; Koke, Llorente, Griezmann; Giuliano, Lookman, Alvarez.
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Predicted scoreline: 2-3 Barcelona win. Lookman and Alvarez rating for Atleti. Lamine Yamal to attain a brace and Lewandowski to attain the third.
Historic matchup
Atlético de Madrid maintain a 81-57-115 all-time report in opposition to Barcelona in all competitions. The final match within the Camp Nou between the 2 sides was within the second leg of the Copa del Rey semifinal again on March 3. Atlético lived the definition of struggling in that match, working very exhausting to protect a four-goal lead that noticed them advance to their first Copa del Rey last in 13 years.
To search out the final assembly within the Champions League between the Rojiblancos and the Blaugrana, you would need to return virtually 10 years in the past to April 12, 2016. This too was within the quarterfinals and was a very memorable match for the Colchoneros, who beat Barcelona 2-0 on the Vicente Calderón because of a . The victory in that match noticed Atlético go previous prime Messi-Suárez-Neymar Barça, 3-2 on mixture, to advance to the Champions League semifinals.
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Notably, Barça have solely gained one in every of their previous 4 European clashes with Atlético. Simeone and firm will hope that development continues.
Notable gamers who’ve represented each golf equipment
Antoine Griezmann, Luis Suárez, David Villa, Sergio Agüero, Arda Turan, Memphis Depay, Joao Felix and Sergi Barjuán.