Atletico Madrid vs. Barcelona: Team News, Preview, Live Stream, TV Info
Atletico Madrid and Barcelona meet for the fourth time this season on Wednesday night, competing in the UEFA Champions League for a place in the semi-finals.
The Catalan outfit won the first leg 2-1 a week ago, but their form of late has been patchy. Atleti are their biggest rivals domestically, as well as in this one-off fixture in continental competition. Diego Simeone knows his team need a big performance, but he's far from conceding defeat, per his comments on ESPNFC: "We want to get to the last four and annoy people in the Champions League, just like in La Liga."
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To "annoy" teams is certainly how his side set up, being one of the most tactically well laid-out in Europe again this season with the best defence anywhere.
Former Atleti winger Cristian Rodriguez says the current manager is "untouchable" on account of the success he has brought Los Colchoneros, per Charly Siffredi and Harry De Cosemo of Marca, and firmly believes the home side could mount a comeback—though he also rates Barca's Luis Suarez as better than Leo Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo, which is an obvious danger to Atletico's hopes of progression.
The Spanish media have understandably built up the all-Liga quarter-final, with Sport (in Spanish) suggesting keys to the match would be to stop Atletico scoring early on, set pieces and the intelligence of Messi if he rediscovers form after two low-key performances of late.
Barcelona, for their part, have been quick to point out Luis Enrique has won all seven games against Atletico—including a title-winning victory last season and three 2-1 wins this term so far.
Going 8-of-8 gives Barcelona back their confidence after three games without a win in La Liga, keeps them in the hunt for retaining the Champions League title and perhaps even dents Atleti's self-confidence in keeping up a title challenge domestically. However, progression for Simeone's men could have serious consequences for a faltering Barca side who have been unrivalled for almost two years but would then face stiff competition having failed to beat the remainder of Spain's top four in quick succession.
Date: Wednesday, April 13
Time: 7:45 p.m. BST / 2:45 p.m. ET
Venue: Vicente Calderon, Madrid
TV Info: BT Sport Europe (UK), Fox Sports 1, ESPN Deportes TV (USA)
Live Stream: BT Sport Live Streaming (UK), Fox Soccer 2GO (USA)
The Teams
Atletico won 3-1 at the weekend to close the gap at the top of La Liga to just three points, with Fernando Torres on the scoresheet again and Koke adding to his Champions League assist last week with another two against Espanyol. Simeone's team have only lost once in La Liga since Barcelona themselves beat them back in January, though that single loss—away to Sporting Gijon just before the international break—could yet prove extremely costly.
In Europe, Atleti topped their group and have gone on to beat PSV Eindhoven in the last 16, though it took extra time and penalties to see off the Dutch outfit after two 0-0 draws.
Barcelona were on a long and impressive unbeaten run in all competitions stretching all the way back to October, until they lost El Clasico at the beginning of April.
Suddenly it's just one win from four for Luis Enrique's side, after they surrendered a two-goal lead to draw at Villarreal and lost at the weekend against Real Sociedad, leaving their lead at the top of La Liga remaining on just three points.
In Europe, Barcelona topped their group and easily saw off Arsenal in the last 16, 5-1 on aggregate.
Team News
Fernando Torres is Los Rojiblancos' big absentee, suspended after being sent off in the first leg for two yellow cards—the result of over-exuberant tackles in a fast, aggressive start by Atletico overall—and just minutes after he had opened the scoring.
Tiago is still also out through injury, having suffered a broken leg last year, and Marca report both centre-backs Stefan Savic and Josema Gimenez are back in training, but unlikely to take to the field against Barcelona. Oliver Torres is back in full training.
For Barca, they also have two centre-backs sidelined, but neither is first-choice in any case. Thomas Vermaelen and Jeremy Mathieu are absent and won't be involved, while Gerard Pique missed training on Monday—but should be fit for the game, according to Chris Winterburn of Marca.
Adriano is back in training, and there are no suspensions for the away team to worry about.
Possible Lineups
Atleti (4-4-2): Jan Oblak; Juanfran, Diego Godin, Lucas Hernandez, Filipe Luis; Koke, Gabi, Augusto, Saul; Yannick Carrasco, Antoine Griezmann
Barca (4-3-3): Marc-Andre ter Stegen; Dani Alves, Gerard Pique, Javier Mascherano, Jordi Alba; Sergio Busquets, Ivan Rakitic, Andres Iniesta; Leo Messi, Luis Suarez, Neymar
Player to Watch: Yannick Carrasco, ATM
Whether he plays on the wing or as part of a two-man attack for the home side, Belgian flier Yannick Carrasco is set to play a determining part in whether or not Atleti can get back into the tie and threaten Barcelona's defence.
A great outlet on the counter, Carrasco's pace and dribbling has already troubled Barcelona more than once this season, and he's vital tactically too when Atletico are out of possession, pressing high, tackling the deepest opposition players and quick to spring into action after the ball is won back.
He's still recovering to full fitness so he may not get the full 90 minutes, but his time on the field could prove decisive.
Prediction: Atletico 1-0 Barcelona (Atleti win on away goals, 2-2 on aggregate)
