Atletico Madrid v Barcelona: Team News, Predicted Lineups, Live Stream, TV Info
Barcelona face their toughest assignment of the season so far against Atletico Madrid.
The Rojiblancos looked very impressive when dismantling Sevilla 3-0 at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan, a result that was fully deserved on the balance of play.
Indeed, it was a lesson in quality counter-attacking football, with Diego Simeone's side soaking up a great deal of pressure from their hosts before applying the coup de grace late in the game.
Although Jackson Martinez was quiet on debut and only played a cameo role against the Andalusians, there was enough to identify a burgeoning relationship with Antoine Griezmann. It is that double act who can author Barca's downfall.
Two 1-0 wins for the Catalans is a studious and unspectacular start to their own campaign. In fact it's the first time in Barca's history that they have begun a season as such, but whether a single goal win or more, the outcome is still the same—three points.
Luis Enrique and his men will start as underdogs, but they shouldn't fear their opponents.
Losing in the quarter-final of the 2013/14 Champions League is Barca's only defeat at the venue in five years, indeed their only loss home and away in that time spanning 16 fixtures, per Fussball Wettpoint.
The Blaugrana will have happy recent memories of the venue from last season, where they secured the 2014/15 La Liga title via a Lionel Messi strike.
Date: Saturday, September 12
Time: 7:30 p.m. BST/2:30 p.m. ET
Venue: Vicente Calderon Stadium, Madrid, Spain
TV Info: Sky Sports 3/Sky Sports 3 HD (UK only)/beIN Sports 1 (USA only)
Live Stream: Sky Go (UK only)/beIN Sports Connect (USA only)
Form Lines
| Atletico Madrid | Barcelona |
| W 3-0 vs. Sevilla | W 1-0 vs. Malaga |
| W 1-0 vs. Las Palmas | W 1-0 vs. Athletic Club de Bilbao |
| W 3-0 vs. Real Betis | D 1-1 vs. Athletic Club de Bilbao |
| D 0-0 vs. Cadiz | L 0-4 vs. Athletic Club de Bilbao |
| W 2-0 vs. Real Sociedad | W 5-4 vs. Sevilla |
| L 0-1 vs. Leganes | W 3-0 vs. Roma |
Predicted Formations
Barcelona will stick to the tried and tested 4-3-3, but defensively the Blaugrana are struggling to piece together a lineup.
Claudio Bravo is the latest to withdraw from the squad with a calf muscle injury. His agent Cristian Ogalde told Radio Cooperativa, per Chris Myson of Goal.com:
"Claudio is alright – he will be 100 percent in three weeks.
I have spoken to him and he is relaxed. Claudio expects to feel fine within a week, but he needs to recover fully to make sure the injury doesn't recur in the coming months.
He will miss a few La Liga matches, but he is better off making a good recovery so that he doesn't have a relapse and can be fit for the rest of the season.There is no need to rush the process only to be ruled out for six months with a new injury in the same area.
"
Fortunately for Luis Enrique, Marc-Andre ter Stegen is a more than able replacement, but the young German needs to rid himself of the mistakes that ruined his Spanish Super Cup experience.
Sergi Roberto has just about recovered from his own injury and will deputise for the still-injured Dani Alves at right-back.
Although Gerard Pique still has to sit out the next two games, Thomas Vermaelen and Javier Mascherano are building up a decent rapport in his place.
Both will have to be on their toes at all times to snuff out the creativity and prowess of Antoine Griezmann and Jackson Martinez.
Jordi Alba has a chance to get forward in this one. Young Oliver Torres is a super talent in the Atleti midfield, but he isn't known for his defensive work and is unlikely to support Juanfran when trying to curtail Alba's raiding down the left flank.
Gabi, Tiago and Koke present a formidable midfield to stifle the twin talents of Andres Iniesta and Ivan Rakitic, and to that end we could see Messi dropping deeper from time to time to lend a hand.
The triple threat of Messi, Neymar and Suarez hasn't really gelled so far this season. Diego Godin and Co. will aim to see that lasts another week at least but arguably Barca would happily take another hard-fought 1-0 win over a masterclass.
Player to Watch
Jackson Martinez showed in 12 minutes against Sevilla what he is all about.
Atleti's £35 million capture from Porto took no time at all to register his first goal. And what a goal. One touch outside of the area to set himself and then a beautiful shot to the top corner to finish the game as a contest.
Thomas Vermalen has surprised just about everyone with his application in the first few games of this campaign, but he'll have his work cut out to keep Martinez at bay for the full 90 minutes.
Unlike Griezmann who'll put in a shift at the coal face when required, Martinez's style harks back to a bygone era. A pure, thoroughbred goalscorer.
He will be in the face of both Vermaelen and Javier Mascherano throughout and won't give them a moment's peace.
Arguably he is a player that doesn't necessarily need service from his wide men to thrive either. A real handful and as he begins to find his feet, a player who can surely trouble the usual exponents for the Pichichi Trophy come the end of the season.
Key Battle
The football gods have shone brightly on this fixture.
Diego Godin and Uruguayan team-mate Luis Suarez will face off in a battle royale at the heart of the Atleti defence. Neither player will give an inch to the other.
Suarez has started off the season in fine form, but Godin's continued excellence in the central defensive role will present Barca's No. 9 with one of his stiffest tests of the season.
The narrative of the game may eventually pan out the same way as Barca's last visit when Lionel Messi was the match-winner.
Suarez won't worry if the Argentine takes the plaudits again as long as his own contribution has affected proceedings in some way.
Intelligent movement and direct running could unsettle Godin, and while he is unlikely to be tempted to stray from his sentry in the middle of the park, he may be forced to roam to contain Suarez, thus opening up the channels for Messi and Neymar to exploit.
Odds
The following pre-match odds are available, per Odds Shark:
Barcelona win: 28/25
Athletic Bilbao win: 11/5
Draw: 251/100
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