Atlético Madrid host Barcelona in a crunch fixture that headlines this weekend’s motion in LaLiga. Barça lead the league with 73 factors, 4 forward of Real Madrid and they will need to maintain that hole going as we enter the enterprise finish of the season. Atlético, in the meantime, are fourth on 57, one behind Villarreal and can have eyes on getting one over on a team they are going to face twice extra within the Champions League over the subsequent fortnight.
Here’s every thing you must know concerning the match:
How to look at
The match will likely be broadcast on Saturday evening on Disney+ within the UK, ESPN within the U.S., FanCode in India and DAZN in Australia. You can even observe ESPN’s live updates.
Key Details
Kick-off time: Saturday, Apr 4 at 8 p.m. GMT (4 p.m. ET; 12.30 a.m. IST; and 7.00 a.m. AEDT)
Venue: Metropolitano, Madrid
Referee: TBC
VAR: TBC
Team news
Atlético Madrid: Musso, Molina, Le Normand, Lenglet, Giuliano, Koke, Obed Vargas, Baena, Nico, Almada, Griezmann
Barcelona: Joan García, Cancelo, Araújo, Cubarsí, Gerard Martín, Eric, Pedri, Lamine Yamal, Fermín, Olmo, Rashford
Talking Points
Expect objectives
You consider Diego Simeone and objectives aren’t the very first thing that come to thoughts — however that is a stereotype that Simeone has set about dismantling not too long ago. Playing an expansive model of soccer, his Atlético groups have regarded decidedly much less fortress-like on the again and extra compelling going ahead within the current previous. This is very true after they face an opponent keen to go all out in assault: which is precisely what Hansi Flick’s Barcelona do, each single sport.
With their extraordinarily excessive line, Barcelona invite extra hassle than any main team in Europe, but in addition pose extra of it going ahead — squeezing their opponents into their very own defensive third, committing a number of runners ahead and by no means settling for a slim margin. It has typically labored to their detriment underneath Flick, however as a rule, it is a technique that is paid off.
Combine this with Atlético’s new discovered love of journey, and it’s best to count on objectives on Saturday, a lot of them. After all, their previous eight head-to-heads have produced 32 objectives!
The Griezmann issue
This would be the first sport Antoine Griezmann performs for Atlético after saying he’ll go away the membership this summer time after a decade (throughout two spells): he go away because the membership’s high scorer of all time (211 objectives), and is fourth of their record of all time appearances.
His affect has waned this season — he is fifteenth in Atlético’s most minutes performed in LaLiga this season, in comparison with fourth final season — with Simeone transitioning to a post-Griezmann life by counting on his squad’s attacking depth and selection, however he stays an enormous consider huge video games. He began each legs of the Copa del Rey semifinal in opposition to Barca not too long ago and he’ll count on to start out this Saturday in what guarantees to be an emotional evening for membership and membership legend.
Expect him to be an enormous issue.
Can Marcus Rashford replicate Raphinha’s affect?
Raphinha is the glue that holds Barcelona’s sensational assault collectively: his urgent units the tone and his directness and eye for a decisive contribution within the closing third offers the steadiness the assault wants. He is, although, set for a spell on the sidelines with a hamstring injury he picked up whereas away with Brazil — and meaning Barca will lean on Manchester United loanee Marcus Rashford to man that left flank.
Rashford began the season brightly, establishing objectives aplenty (and scoring freely within the UEFA Champions League), however has regarded off the boil after a mixture of Raphinha’s return and a number of minor accidents and diseases. Barca will need him to rediscover that early type with a collection of crunch matches developing, beginning with the Atlético sport.
The house facet, although, will likely be most cautious of the person on the opposite flank…
Can Atletico cease Lamine Yamal?
Lamine Yamal leads Barcelona’s scoring and help charts with 14 objectives, 9 assists in LaLiga. He additionally has an X-factor that stats cannot fairly seize: ball at ft, he seems able to doing something, beating anybody and producing simply what’s wanted within the closing third.
After a gradual begin to the season, Yamal has burst into life over the previous couple of months and as Newcastle United came upon the arduous manner, one odd quiet sport does not imply he will not rip you aside within the very subsequent one. He is, although, but to attain in opposition to Atlético this season — a mixture of Matteo Ruggeri and Dávid Hancko retaining the younger man quiet this season. That’s a file he’ll need to redress on precedence.
Familiar foes
The two sides have already met one another thrice this season (Barca gained 3-1 within the league, Atlético gained the Copa Del Rey semifinal first leg 4-0, Barca gained the second leg 3-0). They will now face off on Saturday earlier than dealing with one another on April 8 and 14 for 2 legs of a blockbuster Champions League semifinal.
This match, then, has implications past simply the league: with the winners taking appreciable momentum into their European marketing campaign. Who will seize that benefit on Saturday?
