Barcelona host Atletico Madrid on Saturday in a battle between La Liga’s top two with Hansi Flick and Diego Simeone’s side tied on 38 points so far. The big difference is that Barça played one more match, so this match takes on extra importance for the Catalans at home. With results having suffered in recent weeks, this meeting comes at a critical time and undoubtedly constitutes an essential clash from now on for the Blaugrana. Even if Barça triumphs, there remains Real Madrid who are one point behind both teams and who could benefit significantly from a draw in Catalonia.
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Barça ahead of Atleti
With this confrontation of the top two Spaniards, both teams rank quite well in respective key indicators such as goals scored. Not only is it a top-of-the-table encounter, but it’s also two of La Liga’s top three scorers going head-to-head, Barça with 50 goals so far and Atleti 19 fewer from 31 , which is still relatively prolific in the Spanish elite. this campaign. Robert Lewandowski leads the way with 16 goals scored so far this season, while Atleti’s Antoine Griezmann and Alexander Sorloth have only scored less than half individually and not even that many with their combined total of 14.
Can Barça break Atleti?
If Barça is clearly the more prolific of these two rivals, there is no doubt that Atleti will win the battle between the two defenses, which could perhaps tip this clash in their favor. Simeone’s men have conceded nine fewer goals than Flick’s and have also seen an improvement in their UEFA Champions League form, suggesting they are shaking off their problematic form on the road since their victory over Paris Saint -Germain. Big away wins at Sparta Praha and Real Valladolid have been particularly impressive, but no less than four clean sheets in the last eight in all competitions suggest this one could be particularly tricky for the home side.
How to watch
- Date: Saturday December 21 | Time: 3 p.m. ET
- Location: Lluís Companys Olympic Stadium – Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
- Watch: ESPN Sports | Flow: Fubo (try for free)
Both are wary of Real
The other undeniable factor in all of this will be that both Barca and Atleti know that any mistake could see Real take top spot, so a draw doesn’t suit either side here. One point could be enough to keep Los Blancos in control if they tie their game in hand, but a clear winner here has the advantage as Real catch up, so expect both teams to really want all three points here. Atleti face Carlo Ancelotti’s side before Barca, arguably making this an opportunity to take some control of the title race.
No Yamal, no party
With Barca’s star man currently injured, the Catalans look a little less formidable and have certainly struggled against Leganes recently. Home games away from the Camp Nou appear to unsettle Flick’s troops, with Leganes and Las Palmas having both won in Catalonia in recent times, so perhaps a seed of doubt was sown which coincided with the loss of the star man Yamal for a few weeks. Not only could this prove problematic in La Liga, but it could also slow them down at the start of 2025, even if the Champions League is sorted for at least one knockout place, with the top eight still very possible.
