Atlético de Madrid and FC Barcelona clash to light up LaLiga this weekend
FC Barcelona’s Joao Cancelo in action against Axel Witsel of Atlético de Madrid during their last LaLiga meeting in December. Photo: Alberto Estevez / EPA
LaLiga EA Sports is reaching the business end of the season, with the last 10 rounds of the competition starting this weekend.
There is still so much to be decided, especially at the top end of the table as there are so many teams fighting for the same objectives.
Atlético de Madrid and FC Barcelona are two of those teams and they’ll meet this Sunday in one of the most attractive fixtures remaining this term.
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There is a lot at stake, given that these three points could determine who finishes where in the race for Europe.
Barcelona, meanwhile, are still chasing down Real Madrid, looking to close the gap on Los Blancos in the title race.
Diego Simeone’s side are currently fourth with 55 points, two ahead of their nearest challengers Athletic Club. Six points ahead of Atleti are Xavi’s side, who with 61 points are not far behind leaders Real Madrid on 69.
With 10 games left to play, anything is possible for either of these teams, so long as they leave the Estadio Cívitas Metropolitano with three points.
With the end of the season so close, if either team lose then they could be forced to sweat over the final weeks. When they first met this season in Barcelona, Xavi’s side won 1-0 thanks to a goal from João Félix, who is currently on loan from Los Rojiblancos.
Félix will once again be one of the main focal points in this match, as it will be interesting to see how he is received by the Atlético fans and because he can decide evenly matched games such as this one with his talent.
The good news for Xavi is that he has several players he can turn to for a golden moment. The coach also has Lamine Yamal, the breakout star of this LaLiga season, as well as Raphinha, Robert Lewandowski or João Cancelo.
They are all capable of changing a match with one piece of play.
Interestingly, Atlético haven’t lost at home in LaLiga since January last year, which was actually against Barcelona.
This season, Atleti are the best home team in the competition, with 40 points from 14 games (13 wins and a draw).
It will be fascinating to observe the tactical duel between Simeone, who usually plays with five at the back, including his two wing-backs and Xavi, who relies on wingers to generate a lot of his attacking play. The flanks could therefore be key for both sides.
So far, Xavi has won the previous tactical battles against the Argentinian, having triumphed in all four of their meetings as coaches.
The individual battles will be interesting too, as two of the candidates for the LaLiga Pichichi Trophy are involved.
These two strikers will lead the lines on Sunday, as they continue to hunt for goals as part of one of the most competitive Pichichi battles of recent years.
It should be a truly great duel between two of the top teams in Spanish football, with several of the best players on the planet gathered on the same pitch and with a lot at stake given that this meeting comes deep into the season.
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Fans across the world will be watching this Atlético de Madrid vs Barcelona match at the Estadio Cívitas Metropolitano, keen to see who comes out on top.
La Liga fixtures this weekend
Friday
Real Sociedad vs Cadiz, 10pm
Saturday
Mallorca vs Granada, 3pm
Osasuna vs Real Madrid, 5.15pm
Getafe vs Girona, 7.30pm
Athletic Club vs Deportivo Alaves, 10pm
Sunday
Sevilla vs Celta Vigo, 3pm
Villarreal vs Valencia, 5.15pm
Las Palmas vs Almería, 5.15pm
Rayo Vallecano vs Real Betis, 7.30pm
Atlético de Madrid vs Barcelona, 10pm
