Opponent watch: Atletico Madrid will be without two key players vs Barcelona | OneFootball

Barcelona’s 1-0 victory over Rayo Vallecano has strengthened their position at the top end of La Liga. 

However, the focus now shifts to a far bigger challenge, which is an upcoming showdown against Atletico Madrid at Spotify Camp Nou.

What makes this fixture even more interesting is that this will not be a one-off meeting between the two sides. 

Instead, it marks the beginning of a demanding sequence in which Barcelona and Atletico are set to face each other three times across their next four matches, including a high-stakes UEFA Champions League quarter-final tie. 

Boost for Barcelona

Heading into this crucial period, Barcelona appear to have received a timely boost. 

As such, reports from SPORT suggest that Atletico Madrid will be without two important players for the league clash, potentially shifting the balance slightly in the hosts’ favour.

Johnny Cardoso will be suspended against Barcelona. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)

One of the key absences is Johnny Cardoso. The American midfielder has been ruled out after picking up his fifth yellow card of the season during the recent derby against Real Madrid. 

Having already been walking a disciplinary tightrope since February, his booking proved costly, triggering an automatic suspension.

His absence is particularly significant given the current state of Atletico’s midfield, as Diego Simeone has already been dealing with limited options in that area. 

Apart from Cardoso, another player Simeone will miss is Marcos Llorente, who also received his fifth yellow card against Real Madrid, resulting in an automatic suspension.

The situation is further complicated by the ongoing absence of Pablo Barrios, who has been sidelined since picking up an issue in training earlier this month.

In addition to that, young midfielder Rodrigo Mendoza remains unavailable through injury.