La Liga: All to Play for when Atleti Clash with Barca

Atletico Madrid vs Barcelona

There’s no denying that Real Madrid have taken control of the La Liga title race, they aren’t home and dry just yet but, with a seven point lead and ten games to play, it is Los Blancos’ title to lose.

Barcelona and Atletico Madrid sit third and fourth, with surprise package Girona hanging on in second place but there is still plenty of positivity at the two clubs. Both Barca and Atleti have made the Champions League quarter finals, along with Real Madrid, and both have plenty to play for in the league, and La Liga: Atletico vs Barcelona is the box office clash of the weekend in the Spanish top flight.

The Blaugrana are a single point behind Girona and eight off the top, and manager Xavi will expect at least second place; but he won’t have ruled out defending the title, so well won last season.

The Atletico vs Barcelona betting odds tell us this one is on a knife edge, a cracking game for the neutrals and a huge three points on offer.

Talking Points

Griezmann and Morata are as good as ever

They have a combined age of 63 years and over 1,000 appearances for club and country between them but, right now, Alvaro Morata and Antoine Griezmann are in their best form, with 14 league goals and 11 respectively. Morata has been a shade better than a one in three striker in an illustrious career with Juventus, Real Madrid and Atleti and his energy and physicality make him the perfect foil for the mercurial Griezmann. The Frenchman has been happier since his return to Madrid and he was one of three players Diego Simeone picked put for special praise after Los Rojiblancos beat Inter Milan in the Champions League

Another experienced campaigner, Koke, had an inspirational game in midfield while Depay and Griezmann both scored to take the ties to penalties after last season’s runners up won the fist leg 1-0: “Griezmann went on until he could not run any more,” said Simeone. This is what we needed. Being among the eight might sound easy, but it s not.”

Stretched Barcelona are holding up

Without Pedri, Gavi and Frenkie de Jong, all out injured and with uncertain timescales for return, Xavi needs to manage his midfield resources well and the former Manchester City star Ilkay Gundogan continues to be a key figure.

The Blaugrana were simply too strong for Napoli in their Champions Leagues clash in midweek and Gundogan controlled the pace of the game as Xavi’s men came in with a 3-1 win and a 4-2 aggregate. 20 year old midfielder Fermin Lopez scored the opener and Joao Cancelo, on loan from Manchester City, nudged Barca ahead before Robert Lewandowski settled the tie for good.

Ilkay Gundogan continues to be a key figure for Barcelona in their La Liga title chase — Barcelona players celebrate scoring against Napoli in the UEFA Champions League last 16 second leg

One player sure to make some Atletico vs Barcelona highlights is 16-year-old phenomenon Lamine Yamal who has burst onto the scene this season and is the latest Barca wonderkid to emerge with a sparkling future ahead of him. Yamal has already made 28 senior appearances for Barca and won four caps for Spain, and he scored the winner in the Catalans’ 1-0 winner against Real Mallorca, and that after Gundogan had missed a rare penalty.

There are uncertainties around the club at the moment, after Xavi’s announcement that this will be his last season as manager a new head coach must be found, finances need to be sorted and the team has been away from the Camp Nou this season while renovations continue. Xavi has insisted he will leave the club even if they win the Champions League; but then he would go with everybody’s blessing.

Xavi has done a fine job, delivering the league title last season and keeping Barca in the race this season, using all his squad and a combination of youth an experience. Yamal and Lopez are the future of this great club, but Gundogan who has made seven assists in the league and Lewandowski, who has scored 12 goals, can deliver the goods right now.

History

With 35 wins to 18 over the past 30 years Barcelona have bossed this relationship though they haven’t had it all their own way. But the Catalans have won the last four meetings, the most recent three by a 1-0 score line.

Atletico Madrid have been fantastic at home this season, with 13 wins and one draw while the Catalans are unbeaten away with seven wins and six draws on the road.

Barca’s recent form has been much better, with four wins and two draws from the last six, while Atleti have won two, drawn one and lost three.