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FC Barcelona travel to Atlético Madrid in La Liga Matchday 24

By Benjamin Barkworth

BARCELONA, SPAIN - FEBRUARY 19: Players of Barcelona celebrate scoring a goal during the La Liga football match between FC Barcelona and CD Leganes at Camp Nou stadium on February 19, 2017 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by Albert Llop/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images)
BARCELONA, SPAIN - FEBRUARY 19: Players of Barcelona celebrate scoring a goal during the La Liga football match between FC Barcelona and CD Leganes at Camp Nou stadium on February 19, 2017 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by Albert Llop/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images) /
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Barcelona have a tight game ahead of them against Diego Simeone’s men, which they need to win in order to keep their league hopes alive.

Form

Looking at Barcelona’s form purely in terms of results shows that they are in good form, aside from the PSG result. Eight wins in their last ten games in all competitions, and the fact that they are unbeaten in the league since October backs up this interpretation. However, they go in to this match with storm clouds hanging above them due to the PSG debacle. The win against Leganés in the last league match was lucky more than anything else, which didn’t help. Lionel Messi had to bail them out once again. This game is a major chance for them to quell the rumours and questions currently heading their way.

Squads

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Luis Enrique has a few injuries to deal with, which weakens his squad slightly. Arda Turan, Javier Mascherano and Aleix Vidal all miss out. Vidal is the only player out of them three with a long-term injury, so the other two should be back in the near future to help with Barcelona’s push on three fronts. Aside from that, the team is in good condition going into this match due to a weeks rest. Diego Simeone has a few key injuries affecting his squad selection. Tiago, Juanfran and Augusto Fernández are all out, but they have more than capable replacements. They are also boosted by the return, from injury, of Diego Godín in the heart of the defence.

Next: Barcelona's right-back search

History

Recent history favours Barcelona in this fixture. The Catalans have won seven of the last ten fixtures between the two teams. In fact, the two managers have faced each other eleven times with their current teams, and Enrique is leading 8-1 win in terms of wins. That’s an impressive record for any managerial head-to-head, but even more remarkable considering it is against Simeone. In them eleven games there has been twenty-nine goals, which is just over an average of 2.5 per game. Therefore, don’t expect a plethora of goals in this contest. Especially because it is significant to both teams aspirations this season, which suggests a cagey game. Barcelona are challenging for the title, and Atlético are holding on to fourth place, which is the last Champions League spot.

BARCELONA, SPAIN – JANUARY 21: Head coach Diego Pablo Simeone (L) of Club Atletico de Madrid shakes hands with Head coach Luis Enrique Martinez of FC Barcelona during the Copa del Rey Quarter-Final First Leg match between FC Barcelona and Club Atletico de Madrid at Camp Nou on January 21, 2015 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)
BARCELONA, SPAIN – JANUARY 21: Head coach Diego Pablo Simeone (L) of Club Atletico de Madrid shakes hands with Head coach Luis Enrique Martinez of FC Barcelona during the Copa del Rey Quarter-Final First Leg match between FC Barcelona and Club Atletico de Madrid at Camp Nou on January 21, 2015 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images) /

Playing Style

Atlético have been playing with a lot more attacking intent this season, which has started to produce good results. His decision to commit to this style of football may have been inspired by the 2016 Champions League Final. In that match, Zinedine Zidane instructed his side to let Atletico have more of the ball than they were accustomed to. He knew that they would struggle to break down his team because they were used to breaking quickly on the counter-attack. Ultimately he was successful because Real won their 11th Champions League title, although, they had their fair share of luck.

For a brief spell, it looked like Simeone would return to the defensive style he knows best. However, in the last few matches, which includes Sporting Gijón and Bayer Leverkusen, they have had a lot more creative freedom. There was also the second leg of the Copa del Rey Semi-Final in which they nearly snatched a result from Barça, who struggled to deal with the Atlético offense. The performances in these games might persuade Simeone to be a bit more adventurous in this game.

Another key factor going in to this game is the amount of time they have had to rest between games. Barcelona have been able to rest for a whole week, whereas Atlético last played on Tuesday in an energy-sapping 4-2 win over Bayer Leverkusen. The slight difference could be key in the latter stages of the game if it is a tight affair, especially if Barça are dominating the play. This factor, and the need for the Catalans to prove their doubters wrong with a strong performance, should allow them to come away with a win.

Prediction: Atlético Madrid 1-2 FC Barcelona

Predicted Lineup

Ivan Rakitić instead of Denis Suárez is a possibility.