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| Barcelona vs Atletico Madrid: Match Preview |
After being knocked out of last season’s UEFA Champions League, Barcelona will be looking to take revenge when they host Atletico Madrid at the Camp Nou in their first big game of the 2016/2017 La Liga season.
The Catalan giants lost 3-2 on aggregate against Diego Simeone’s men to crash out of last season’s UCL tournament in the quarter finals, however, it is a different ball game in La Liga and Barça are huge favourites to scoop all three points when both teams meet at the Camp Nou on Wednesday night.
Atletico Madrid have failed to register a win at the Camp Nou for over ten years with their last victory coming in February 2006. However, they have grown much more stronger ever since then as coach Diego Simeone has groomed the players into world beaters and it promises to be a very tough game for the Catalan giants.
TEAM NEWS
Barcelona got a very huge injury blow yesterday after it was announced by the club that Samuel Umtiti has picked up an injury in training and won’t be available for the game. The Frenchman has been a crucial force in Barça’s back line ever since he joined and have already won the love of the manager and also the fans. This means Javier Mascherano will definitely start alongside Gerard Pique in central defence for Barça.
Fortunately, Umtiti is the only unavailable player for the Catalans. Sergio Busquets is set to return to the squad after being rested for the game against Leganes on Saturday while MSN will surely lead the line as they go for the win.
Atletico Madrid didn’t quite start the new season in good form, failing to win their first two games against newly-promoted teams Alaves and Leganes, but the Madrid side have rediscovered their form, winning their last three games whilst scoring 11 goals and keeping three clean sheets.
No major injury problems for the club and they will come into the Camp Nou with the aim of getting a result and will make life difficult for the hosts.
FC BARCELONA VS ATLETICO MADRID
Date: Wednesday, 21 September, 2016
Time: 10:00pm CET
Venue: Camp Nou, Barcelona
Referee: David Fernández Borbalán
LAST FIVE MEETINGS
Atletico Madrid 2-0 Barcelona
Barcelona 2-1 Atletico Madrid
Barcelona 2-1 Atletico Madrid
Atletico Madrid 1-2 Barcelona
Atletico Madrid 0-1 Barcelona
FORM GUIDE
Barcelona: WWLWW
Atletico Madrid: DDWWW
Predicted Barcelona Lineup: Marc Andre Ter Stegen; Sergi Roberto, Gerard Pique, Javier Mascherano, Jordi Alba; Ivan Rakitic, Sergio Busquets, Andres Iniesta; Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez, Neymar.
Predicted Atletico Madrid Lineup: Jan Oblak; Juanfran, Stefan Savic, Diego Godín, Filipe Luís; Saúl Niguez, Gabi, Koke; Antoine Griezmann, Kevin Gameiro, Yannick Carrasco.
BarcaLens Prediction: Diego Simeone will come tough, Barça will need to be at their best to break down the team and with the current form of Messi-Suarez-Neymar, they have the edge, Barça to win – Barcelona 3-1 Atletico Madrid.