Three key battles that could determine the outcome of Barcelona vs Atletico Madrid

FC Barcelona are awaiting their third straight La Liga sport on the new Spotify Camp Nou. This time, it’s a huge one with Atlético Madrid coming to city, and the ambiance will undoubtedly be as electrical as doable.

Two wins in two video games at their new stadium are a very good begin for Hansi Flick. The German supervisor has seen his crew get outcomes regardless of not being medical sufficient, and he will likely be hoping for an enchancment in opposition to Atlético Madrid.

Every little thing factors to a firecracker of a sport between the 2 La Liga giants. Particular person battles are sure to be current everywhere in the pitch, and these may go a good distance in the direction of figuring out the end result on the night time.

With all this in thoughts, we at Sempre Barça current three key battles that might resolve Barcelona vs Atlético Madrid.

Alexander Sørloth vs Pau Cubarsi

Sørloth has scored so many targets in opposition to Barcelona over time {that a} operating joke could be made that the Catalans all the time begin a purpose down once they face the Norwegian marksman. He’s in good type, scoring a brace for Atlético Madrid final weekend.

Whereas it isn’t a assure that Diego Simeone begins him alongside Julián Álvarez, that doesn’t matter for Sørloth. Whether or not as a starter or off the bench, he’ll try so as to add to his tally in opposition to Barcelona, and the Catalans should be cautious.

Pau Cubarsí needs to be at his attentive finest to verify Sørloth doesn’t slip out of his grip. The Norwegian is an professional at making good runs into the field and discovering himself in harmful positions.

With the id of Barcelona’s second centre-back on the night time not clear, Cubarsí, at 18, should be the chief in defence and be certain that he, alongside along with his team-mates, tries to cease Sørloth from influencing the sport.

Raphinha vs Nahuel Molina

Raphinha is more likely to begin in opposition to Atlético Madrid after a powerful show in opposition to Alavés final weekend. He didn’t appear to be a participant who had hardly performed any soccer for 2 complete months, and the starvation and need had been evident.

Lining up on the left flank, he would doubtless come up in opposition to Nahuel Molina within the absence of Marcos Llorente. The Argentinian likes to get ahead, however with a risk like Raphinha and Balde overlapping, that is an avenue Barcelona can goal.

Raphinha has a superb relationship with Balde on the left flank, and when the duo play collectively, as a rule, they make Barcelona look significantly better. Towards Molina, they may run rampant if the chance presents itself.

It stays to be seen how the Brazilian fares on the night time and whether or not he can affect an enormous sport as he did on so many events final season.

Pedri vs Barrios

Pedri made a profitable return from harm in opposition to Alavés. He performed the final half-hour of that sport and ran the present, enthralling the Camp Nou crowd along with his play in midfield and exhibiting precisely what the crew missed in his absence.

Pablo Barrios, alternatively, is Atlético Madrid’s largest guess in midfield. He’s more likely to be tasked with stopping Pedri from influencing the sport. The Canary Islander, for his half, will need to dominate his counterpart.

If Pedri has a very good sport, as a rule, Barcelona have a superb time. Alongside Frenkie de Jong, the duo can return to doing what they did so properly early within the season, taking part in opposition out of the park in midfield.

All eyes will likely be on the younger Spaniard, and allow us to wait and see how he manages to affect the sport in opposition to Atlético Madrid on the night time.