Atletico Madrid vs. Barcelona: Preview, Predictions and Lineups

Atlético Madrid vs. Barcelona Score Prediction

Barcelona Squeeze Past Atlético

The outcome of Saturday’s match might come down to who wants victory more. For Atléti, the league season is effectively over, Champions League qualification all but secured without any hopes of competing for the title. However, La Blaugrana have much more riding on the game.

While both teams must consider Wednesday’s Champions League meeting, Barça simply can’t afford to take things easy this weekend with Real Madrid on their tail. They will have to play with intensity and fervor that should prove too powerful for their hosts.

Barça will have learned from their four-goal defeat at the Metropolitano and will now be prepared to deal with Atléti’s direct approach against their high line. A shot at redemption and to land a psychological blow ahead of upcoming clashes could prove too good to turn down for Flick’s men.

• Head-to-head record: Barça’s 4–0 loss away at Atléti in February was something of an anomaly. The Catalans have an impressive record in this fixture and had won their previous four trips to the Metropolitano, In La Liga, they have lost just three of their last 30 against Atléti.
• Atléti intensity issues: With full focus on the Champions League tie with Barcelona, Atléti are unlikely to exert themselves too much on Saturday, instead saving themselves for the midweek encounter. That will leave their visitors with plenty of time and space to unleash their attacking threats.
• Prolific Barça: La Blaugrana entered the international break in exceptional goalscoring form. Their three matches leading up to the hiatus saw them fire 13 goals past Sevilla, Newcastle United and Rayo Vallecano, and even without the injured Raphinha this weekend, they will fancy their chances of breaching Atléi’s goal on multiple occasions.

Prediction: Atlético Madrid 1–2 Barcelona

Atlético Madrid Predicted Lineup vs. Barcelona

Diego Simeone will ideally want to rotate where possible, perhaps the reason Alexander Sørloth starts ahead of Antoine Griezmann, but injury and suspension issues across the team offer him numerous selection headaches.

Marcos Llorente is a notable miss for Simeone through suspension, with Johnny Cardoso also banned for the Barcelona clash for reaching the yellow card threshold. Injury-wise, there are many doubts for the match.

Marc Pubill, Jan Oblak, Pablo Barrios and Rodrigo Mendoza are all risks for the clash.

Atlético predicted lineup vs. Barcelona (4-4-2): Oblak; Molina, Pubill, Hancko, Ruggeri; Simeone, Baena, Koke, Lookman; Alvarez, Sørloth.

Barcelona are too missing key names for the clash, notably without Raphinha after the Brazilian suffered a hamstring injury on international duty that will sideline him until May. He joins Andreas Christensen on the absentee list.

Frenkie de Jong appears almost certain to miss the first of three upcoming Atléti battles, but could make his comeback on Wednesday night. Marc Bernal will replace him in the engine room.

Jules Koundé and Alejandro Balde have both recently returned to training, but their comebacks may come midweek rather than on Saturday. Eric García could step in for the former at right back, with João Cancelo filling in for the latter.

Barcelona predicted lineup vs. Atlético (4-2-3-1): J. García; E. García, Cubarsí, Martín, Cancelo; Bernal, Pedri; Yamal, López, Rashford; Lewandowski.

What Time Does Atlético Madrid vs. Barcelona Kick Off?

• Location: Madrid, Spain
• Stadium: Riyadh Air Metropolitano
• Date: Saturday, April 4
• Kick-off Time: 3 p.m. ET / 12 p.m. PT / 8 p.m. BST

How to Watch Atlético Madrid vs. Barcelona on TV, Live Stream

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