Three talking points as Barcelona welcome Atletico Madrid to the Spotify Camp Nou | OneFootball

FC Barcelona have their third successive La Liga game at the new Spotify Camp Nou, and it is a big one, with Atletico Madrid coming to town. The Catalan giants have been in good form in the league, despite their indifferent displays in Europe.

Barcelona go into this game as league leaders following Real Madrid’s three successive draws. They will be hoping to beat Diego Simeone’s side and put pressure on Xabi Alonso’s team by going four points clear at the top.

Atletico Madrid are in excellent form, arriving in Barcelona on the back of seven straight wins, and it will not be easy for Hansi Flick’s team to take the three points. The German manager will have to get his tactics spot on against Simeone.

With all this in mind, here are three talking points as Barcelona prepare to face Atletico Madrid at the new Spotify Camp Nou in La Liga.

1: Three points and a better performance

Barcelona have been collecting three points regularly in La Liga in recent weeks. However, they cannot claim that their performances in these victories have been flawless, and big games have been an Achilles heel so far this season.

Yes, the three points are important against Atletico Madrid tonight, but just as importantly, a strong showing is needed from the Catalan giants. Barcelona need to return to the team they were last season.

If they can go one step further and improve, that is an added positive. Simeone’s teams generally shut up shop very well, especially if they score early, and Barcelona have had a tendency to concede early this season.

Everything points to the Catalan giants doing everything possible to emerge with three points and a better display, and let us hope that is how it pans out.

2: Fantabulous five

For arguably the first time this season, Hansi Flick can name a starting XI that includes Lamine Yamal, Raphinha, Robert Lewandowski, Pedri, and Frenkie de Jong, five pillars of last season who have struggled with injuries at different points in this campaign.

Add Dani Olmo to the mix, and you almost have Flick’s preferred XI from last season, with Joan Garcia and Eric Garcia replacing Wojciech Szczesny and Inigo Martinez. The only absence is Fermin Lopez, but Olmo’s form in the previous game was undeniably promising.

This is as close to a full roster as Flick has had this season. It offers plenty of hope for what lies ahead and how Barcelona can perform against Atletico Madrid tonight.

Of course, with Raphinha and Pedri fresh off recent injury lay-offs, they are unlikely to play the full 90 minutes, but that is why Flick has quality back-ups in the squad. Let us see how the team gels and performs.

3: The Julian Alvarez audition?

Julian Alvarez is undoubtedly the biggest star at Atletico Madrid and, tonight, he might be playing at a stadium he could call home in the future. Barcelona’s interest in the Argentinian attacker is well documented.

He has done an excellent job since moving to Diego Simeone’s side from Manchester City and has gone on to establish himself as one of the best strikers in the world. The goals have been flowing.

Although he would be expensive, Barcelona might look to make him a statement signing ahead of next season. If that is the case, the Spotify Camp Nou faithful might be getting a glimpse of what he could bring to the arena in future seasons.

That said, the hope is that Barcelona do not let the South American impress tonight. The Catalan club needs the three points, and limiting Alvarez could go a long way towards achieving that.