Barcelona vs. Atletico Madrid: Issues and Decisions That Will Shape La Liga Game
In the game of the weekend in La Liga, Atletico Madrid travel east to Catalonia to take on Barcelona in a true heavyweight clash at Camp Nou on Sunday.
For the visitors, their memories of Barcelona's famous stadium will be fond after their dramatic capture of the league title at the venue on the final day of last season. Diego Simeone's side will also be buoyed following their 2-0 victory over cross-town rivals Real Madrid in the first leg of their round-of-16 clash in the Copa del Rey on Wednesday.
Barcelona, meanwhile, come into this match engulfed in turmoil following the loss to Real Sociedad at the Anoeta—a situation not even a 5-0 midweek thrashing of Elche in the Copa del Rey could quell.
The possible outcomes from this clash are also huge: Should there be a winner, they will, at the very least, secure second spot in the league table and could rise to the top if Real Madrid were to drop points for the second weekend running.
Across the following slides, we examine the key issues and decisions that will shape Sunday's heavyweight clash.
Barcelona's Turmoil
1 of 5
There aren't too many clubs in world football that can be one point off the top of the league, still contesting the domestic cup and firmly in the mix in the Champions League and still be in turmoil.
But that's the situation in which Barcelona find themselves.
Here's a summary of the club's plight:
- Sporting director Andoni Zubizarreta was sacked after Sunday's defeat to Real Sociedad.
- Carles Puyol, the former Barcelona star and Zubizarreta's assistant, resigned from his position.
- The club lost its Court of Arbitration for Sport appeal to overturn the transfer ban handed down by FIFA.
- Lionel Messi is widely reported to be at odds with manager Luis Enrique.
- The club's recent signings, particularly the injury-plagued Thomas Vermaelen, have been heavily criticised.
- Luis Suarez and Neymar had a spat during a training session last Friday.
- Enrique's team selections have been puzzling, and he left Messi and Neymar out of his starting XI against Real Sociedad, despite having the chance to take the lead in La Liga.
- President Josep Maria Bartomeu has brought forward the club's presidential election by a year to this summer—an indication that every single position is up for review.
They are the main peripheral issues Barcelona's players will have to distance themselves from when they meet Atletico Madrid on Sunday.
Atletico Madrid's Strong Record Against Spain's Elite
2 of 5
When Atletico Madrid fought their way past Real Madrid, 2-0, in the Copa del Rey on Wednesday, it marked the third time Diego Simeone's men have beaten the European champions in four clashes this season.
Since the beginning of the 2013-14 season, Atleti have lost just three times in their nine meetings with Carlo Ancelotti's men, winning four and drawing two.
Though less emphatic, Atletico's record against Barcelona is also impressive, winning one and drawing five of their six games in the same period—conceding just three goals in the process.
If you don't want to do the maths yourself, that means Atletico have been beaten just three times by the world's two most powerful clubs, Real Madrid and Barcelona, in 15 attempts.
As such, there's no question that they'll believe they can take points away from Camp Nou on Sunday.
Barcelona's Shorter Turnaround After Copa del Rey Outing
3 of 5
Though Barcelona did enjoy a bounce-back win against Elche in the Copa del Rey on Thursday, when Luis Enrique's team exited the pitch at Camp Nou at the end of their 5-0 victory, Atletico Madrid were already 24 hours into their preparations for Sunday's monumental meeting due to playing the night before.
In modern football, when the margins are as fine as they are in clashes between the elite, such advantages can prove to be a decisive factor.
Of course, Enrique did ensure some of his leading players were afforded some rest on Thursday, withdrawing Neymar, Jordi Alba and Gerard Pique in the second half.
But still, Atletico, with their extra day of recovery and after starting only a handful of the club's best XI against Real Madrid on Wednesday, will arrive at Camp Nou slightly fresher than their counterparts from Catalonia.
Barcelona's Weakness in the Air
4 of 5
When you face Atletico Madrid, you know it's coming. You know exactly what they're aiming to do. It's so obvious it's painful.
But the question is, can you stop it?
So far this season (and last), countless teams have succumbed to Atletico's aerial dominance and set-piece prowess. Everyone one of them has undoubtedly been aware of the threat, yet so many of them were powerless to do anything about it.
For Barcelona, that should be particularly worrying, given their weakness in the air.
Indeed, it's not surprising that you struggle in the air when you field a line-up containing an array of slight-bodied midfielders and relatively diminutive front three. According to WhoScored, Barcelona win the fewest aerial duels of any team in La Liga at 9.6 per game.
Their opponents for Sunday? 20.9.
The likes of Mario Mandzukic, Raul Garcia, Diego Godin and Jose Gimenez will be ready to give the Catalans an aerial onslaught.
How Does Luis Enrique Select His Defence?
5 of 5
When Barcelona met Real Madrid at the Bernabeu earlier this season, Luis Enrique opted for Jeremy Mathieu at left-back alongside Gerard Pique and Javier Mascherano in the centre of the defence.
While somewhat unconventional, the reasoning was clear: Enrique was concerned about the power and size advantage Real Madrid would have in their front half with Jordi Alba at left-back.
Preparing to face Atletico, the Barcelona manager should have similar concerns.
Should he opt for his natural left-back, Alba, the hosts will be alarmingly undersized when they inevitably face the visitors' set pieces and aerial methods. But the presence of a less-mobile centre-back out on the left side of defence will open the door for Arda Turan and Juanfran—Atletico's most incisive combination this season—to do their thing down the right.
Given Barcelona's weakness in the air (as previously outlined), it's possible we could see Enrique opt for three centre backs in a 3-4-3 or 3-5-2-style system—the sort we saw against Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League. Doing so would maintain attacking width for the hosts, while also giving them more size at the back.
Whichever option Enrique chooses, it will be compelling viewing.
