Football thrives on rivalries, and while clashes between Barcelona and Real Madrid always set pulses racing among Barça fans, a new battle with Atletico Madrid has grown increasingly fierce this season.
The two sides have already met three times this campaign. Barcelona claimed a 3-1 victory in their La Liga encounter in December, but Atletico hit back in the Copa del Rey, progressing from a crucial tie despite Hansi Flick’s side winning the second leg at Camp Nou.
Now, the two clubs are preparing to lock horns once more, with the stakes even higher than in their previous three meetings given the stage of the season and what is on the line.
Tonight, Barcelona travel to Atletico Madrid in a crucial domestic clash, knowing victory is essential if they are to keep Real Madrid at a distance in the title race.
Then, on Wednesday, attention turns to Europe as Barcelona begin a two-legged Champions League tie, with the return leg taking place the following week. It is a defining spell in the season for Flick’s side, a run of fixtures that could ultimately make or break Barcelona’s campaign.
Barcelona’s remarkable run of three meetings with Atlético Madrid in the space of ten days raises an obvious question: which of the fixtures matters most?
Why Tonight Matters
While the two UEFA Champions League quarter-final clashes will inevitably attract the greater spotlight, it is arguably the first meeting at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano in La Liga that could prove the most important of all.
That opening encounter will set the tone for everything that follows. A victory away would not only strengthen Barcelona’s position in the title race, but also hand Los Blaugranes a huge psychological advantage heading into the European double-header.
Winning in Madrid would give Barcelona belief that they have found a way to hurt Atlético, it will forget the scars of the Copa Del Rey first leg, while simultaneously putting doubt in the minds of their opponents before the Champions League quarter-final - a competition two teams will be desperate to win this year.
By contrast, a defeat, particularly a hammering like the last one witnessed in the cup, would immediately increase the pressure on Barcelona. Questions would be asked over their ability to cope with Atlético’s intensity in the attack and organisation in defence, and Yamal, Pedri and co would head into the Champions League ties knowing they had already been beaten by the same opponent.
Psychological impact or not, these games will be crucial to Barcelona’s season and results will go along way to defining their legacy against the greats. Visca Barca!