Three talking points ahead of Atletico Madrid vs Barcelona | La Liga MD 30 | OneFootball

Barcelona are in for a blockbuster month as they return from the international break, and the first of their games sees them lock horns against Atletico Madrid in La Liga.

The Catalans face already faced off against Los Rojiblancos thrice this season and have won twice, but the one defeat they faced was an embarrassing one.

Now, as they head into a month that will decide their fate across competitions, the stakes are at an all-time high. How the team performs and stays fit at this point, needless to say, will decide the outcome of the season.

Barça Universal brings you three talking points ahead of Atletico Madrid vs Barcelona.

The first of three

As club football returns after the international break, Barcelona’s schedule is rather queer as they now face the same team three times in four games.

Indeed, Barcelona and Atletico Madrid are set to face off thrice against each other, all in a span of just ten days.

The first clash will be at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano in La Liga, and the teams then face off just four days later in Catalonia in the first leg of the UEFA Champions League quarterfinal.

One week and a Catalan derby later, Barcelona again lock horns with Diego Simeone’s side, this time in the second leg of the UCL quarterfinal.

Tomorrow night’s game, thus, is the first of the three games between the two Spanish heavyweights, and how it goes will set the tone for the next two games.

A strong start against Los Rojiblancos on Saturday night, needless to say, will set the tone for the UCL games over the next week and place Barcelona in the driver’s seat. A defeat, however, will put pressure on them.

The devastating development

Raphinha’s absence a big blow. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)

The recently concluded international break was largely a positive one for Barcelona, with most players returning partially rested and without any injuries.

The one big blow the Catalans suffered, however, was the setback to Raphinha, and it is clear that the Brazilian’s absence could not come at a worse point in the season.

Just when it looked like the former Leeds United man was getting back to his best, he has now been hit by a hamstring injury that rules him out for five weeks, dealing a massive blow to Hansi Flick’s plans.

He will now miss the UEFA Champions League quarterfinal, possibly even the semifinal and is only expected to return for El Clasico in May.

With the winger ruled out, Flick has to find a replacement who not only provides as much attacking output, threat and finishing but also work rate off the ball, and tomorrow’s game will provide an idea about what the dynamic will be going forward.

The natural option would be to start Marcus Rashford on the left wing, but the Englishman is often erratic on the ball and does not press half as well as the manager expects.

Another option, thus, is for Flick to deploy Fermin Lopez and Dani Olmo together with the duo switching positions and duties in both the attacking midfield and the left-wing position. What Flick opts for, needless to say, will decide the team’s attacking dynamic.

Ghosts of the past

The biggest talking point ahead of the game between Barcelona and Atletico Madrid tomorrow night, is what went down the last time the two teams faced off at the same venue.

For all of Barcelona’s players who will take to the field on the night, it is impossible that the ghosts of the past do not accompany them, especially given how recent the debacle was.

Indeed, the last time the two teams played at the Metropolitano was in the first leg of the Copa del Rey semifinal, a game in which Diego Simeone’s side put four goals past Barcelona in just the first half.

It was a horrific night for the Catalans as the defence fell to shambles and struggled to step up against Atletico Madrid’s press, efficiency and attacking power. Barcelona fought valiantly and won the second leg, but it was still Atletico Madrid who took the tie.

Now, Barcelona return to the same stadium against the same opponent, hoping to take away a win. They will return once more to the venue just over a week later, and they must get past the ghosts of the past if they are to take two wins.