Who: Atletico Madrid vs Barcelona
What: Spanish LaLiga
The place: Metropolitano Stadium, Madrid, Spain
When: Sunday at 9pm (20:00 GMT)
Observe Al Jazeera Sport‘s stay textual content and photograph commentary stream.
Atletico Madrid doesn’t have a lot time to linger on its painful Champions League exit towards Actual Madrid.
One other essential sport awaits on Sunday, this time towards Barcelona within the tight battle for the Spanish league title.
Al Jazeera seems to be forward to one of many greatest video games within the Spanish soccer calendar:
How are Atletico Madrid and Barcelona faring in LaLiga?
Atletico are a degree behind Barcelona in second and 4 factors behind leaders Madrid within the three-way struggle for the trophy.
Actual have performed two extra video games than Barca and yet one more than Atletico.
So Diego Simeone’s staff can hardly afford to lose on Sunday however should shortly recover from one other excruciating defeat to their fierce crosstown rival within the Champions League on Wednesday.
What occurred in Atletico’s Champions League Madrid derby?
Atletico misplaced in a penalty shootout to Actual after Julian Alvarez’s spot kick was disallowed for a double contact. Solely a video evaluate noticed the primary contact when Alvarez’s help foot slid and gently nudged the ball earlier than he impacted it along with his different foot and despatched it into the web.
“Truthfully, it isn’t straightforward to recover from the way in which we misplaced this tie. We are able to’t misinform ourselves,” Simeone stated after the match.
The place might the match be received on Sunday?
Simeone acknowledged that Barcelona might have a bonus each bodily and emotionally after Hansi Flick’s facet acquired an additional day’s relaxation after their victory towards Benfica on Tuesday to advance to the Champions League quarterfinals.
“We face a terrific rival on Sunday. I think about the Barcelona gamers had been wanting our sport to go so long as it might, to achieve penalties,” Simeone stated. “We are going to arrive drained and beat up after having fought arduous in a tie that demanded we give it our all, however we are going to throw every little thing we’ve got left” at Barcelona.
🤩 Wonderful recollections from our final LaLiga sport vs FC Barcelona pic.twitter.com/ztLACCN3bL
— Atlético de Madrid (@atletienglish) March 15, 2025
How has the rivalry panned out not too long ago?
Atletico have confounded Barcelona twice this season. Late objectives by Alexander Sorloth snatched a 2-1 win at Barcelona within the league and a 4-4 draw within the opening leg of their Copa del Rey semifinal.
However Barcelona have gone unbeaten in 17 straight video games throughout all competitions since that loss to Atletico in late December.
Atletico can even host Barcelona subsequent month to resolve their Copa del Rey semifinal.
What’s Barcelona’s tackle the match?
Flick warned his Barcelona stars they should focus to keep away from crumbling towards Atletico Madrid as they’ve of their earlier two conferences this season.
“We have now had actually two nice matches, and naturally, we’ve got to be centered from the start to the top of the match,” Flick advised reporters on Saturday.
“Within the first match, on the finish of the match, we weren’t so centered like we may be, and in addition the second match was [the same] to start with and in addition on the finish, so we’ve got to take care about that.
“Once you make errors, Atletico can harm you, and that is what we’ve got to defend towards.”
No days off 💪 #AtletiBarça pic.twitter.com/iuQRV2QRWk
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) March 15, 2025
How will Flick resolve the Olmo-Gavi headache?
Dani Olmo is seemingly forward of Gavi within the pecking order for the attacking midfield spot for Barca.
Gavi and Barca defender Alejandro Balde weren’t included within the Spain squad that can face the Netherlands within the Nations League quarterfinals subsequent week, however the Barca coach hailed each gamers.
“[Gavi] got here from an enormous harm, and he’s 20 years outdated, and now in the mean time, he’s, I believe, not the primary [choice] … a harder state of affairs, however he’s doing nice,” Flick stated.
“In the mean time our midfield is doing actually good. I’m blissful he’s right here, and I believe he’ll play many, a few years for this wonderful membership and be one of many superstars right here.
“He can enhance so much. He’ll do that. His angle is unbelievably good. He’s actually centered and actually blissful he’s right here.
“I believe for the World Cup 2026, he can be there and be capable of play, 100%.”
Joyful Gavi. 🫶 pic.twitter.com/Eh0tos7Uhi
— LALIGA English (@LaLigaEN) March 14, 2025
Flick added that Balde was “probably the greatest” left backs on this planet and in addition praised veteran centre again Inigo Martinez, who was known as up for Spain by nationwide staff coach Luis de la Fuente.
“Along with his angle and mentality, he’s unbelievably good for each staff,” Flick stated.
Atletico Madrid kind information:
W D W L L L
Barcelona kind information:
W D W W W
Atletico Madrid staff information
Angel Correa is suspended for the match after his crimson card within the 2-1 defeat to Getafe final weekend.
Koke stays a doubt with a knock whereas Rodrigo De Paul is about to overlook out.
Barcelona staff information
Marc Bernal and Marc-Andre ter Stegen are nonetheless long-term absentees with knee accidents, however Andreas Christensen is again in coaching with the squad.
Atletico Madrid’s possible beginning lineup:
Jan Oblak; Nahuel Molina, Jose Maria Gimenez, Clement Lenglet, Reinildo; Giuliano Simeone, Rodrigo De Paul, Pablo Barrios, Conor Gallagher; Antoine Griezmann, Julian Alvarez
Barcelona’s potential beginning lineup:
Wojciech Szczesny; Jules Kounde, Ronald Araujo, Pau Cubarsi, Alejandro Balde; Frenkie De Jong, Pedri; Lamine Yamal, Dani Olmo, Raphinha; Robert Lewandowski
