Atletico Madrid vs Barcelona: Match preview, predicted line-ups, team news and prediction | OneFootball

Atletico Madrid host league leaders Barcelona at the Metropolitano Stadium on Saturday evening.

Atleti lost 3-2 to local rivals Real Madrid last time out, ending their four-game league winning streak.

Meanwhile, Barcelona claimed a 1-0 victory over Rayo Vallecano, extending their winning run in the competition run to five matches.

Match preview

Atleti are pushing to secure Champions League qualification. They look poised to do so, sitting 13 points clear of fifth-placed Real Betis.

Atleti have already faced Barcelona three times this season, winning one and losing twice. Both sides will also meet in the Champions League quarter-final.

Their only victory — a 4-0 win in the first leg of the Copa del Rey semi-final — was enough to secure a place in the final, despite a 3-0 second leg loss.

The Rojiblancos will look to exploit Barcelona’s high defensive line, while maintaining a compact defensive shape.

Barcelona could be just one point adrift of second-placed Real Madrid before this clash, which could pile more pressure on them.

They are the most in-form team in the division, picking up 15 points from the last six games. That said, they have lost their last two of their last four away matches.

Barcelona would need to defend better and be clinical to emerge victorious in Saturday’s showdown.

Team news

Atleti will be without Marcos Llorente and Johnny Cardoso due to suspension. Goalkeeper Jan Oblak, Marc Pubill, Rodrigo Mendoza, and Pablo Barrios are doubtful.

Raphinha, Andreas Christensen and Frenkie de Jong are fitness concerns for Barcelona.

Predicted line-ups

Atletico Madrid (4-4-2): Juan Musso, Nahuel Molina, David Hancko, Jose Maria Gimenez, Mateo Ruggeri, Koke, Alex Baena, Giuliano Simeone, Ademola Lookman, Antoine Griezmann, Julian Alvarez.

Barcelona (4-3-3): Joan Garcia, Joao Cancelo, Ronaldo Araujo, Pau Cubarsi, Gerard Martin, Marc Bernal, Pedri, Fermin Lopez, Marcus Rashford, Lamine Yamal, Robert Lewandowski.

Prediction

We predict a 2-1 win for Barcelona.

Stats from whoscored.com