Preview: Barcelona vs Atletico Madrid – prediction, team news, lineups

Barcelona will welcome Atletico Madrid to Camp Nou on Wednesday night time for the primary leg of their Champions League quarter-final.

The 2 sides locked horns in Spain’s prime flight on Saturday, with La Blaugrana scoring a late winner by means of Robert Lewandowski to maneuver seven factors clear on the prime of the La Liga desk.

Match preview

Barcelona’s earlier two quarter-final ties with Atletico within the Champions League have led to defeat, with the Catalan aspect dropping 2-1 to the Pink and Whites within the final eight of the 2013-14 competitors after which 3-2 on the similar stage in 2015-16.

The Blaugrana have solely received certainly one of their earlier 4 European video games with Atletico, scoring simply 3 times, however they’ve been victorious in 5 of their final six matches towards the capital outfit in all competitions, together with a 2-1 success in La Liga on Saturday.

Barcelona at the moment are seven factors away from second-placed Actual Madrid on the prime of the desk, whereas they’re the favourites to beat Atletico within the Champions League, however Hansi Flick’s staff shall be absolutely conscious of the problem that their league rivals may present.

The Catalan staff thumped Newcastle United 8-3 within the last-16 stage of the Champions League, together with a 7-2 success over the Magpies within the second leg on residence soil.

Barcelona are unbeaten in all competitions for nearly two months, and their unimaginable attacking expertise implies that they’re a significantly harmful staff on this event, with the good Lamine Yamal having one other wonderful season.

Atletico will truly enter this match off the again of three straight defeats in all competitions, together with their reverse to Barcelona in Spain’s prime flight on Saturday.

Diego Simeone’s aspect are fourth within the La Liga desk, 12 factors forward of fifth-placed Actual Betis, so the league is just not their focus at this second, with the Pink and Whites as a substitute concentrating on the Champions League and certainly the upcoming Copa del Rey ultimate towards Actual Sociedad.

Atletico misplaced 3-2 to Tottenham Hotspur within the second leg of their last-16 Champions League conflict however nonetheless managed to advance to the ultimate eight with an combination rating of 7-5.

Simeone’s staff had been knocked out within the last-16 stage of final season’s Champions League by Actual Madrid, they usually haven’t been previous the quarter-finals since 2016-17, once they once more misplaced to Actual Madrid within the semi-finals.

Atletico have truly misplaced 4 instances within the European Cup this time period, which makes their spot within the final eight extra exceptional, however their report towards Barcelona within the competitors will definitely hand them confidence heading into this match.

Barcelona Champions League type:

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Barcelona type (all competitions):

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Atletico Madrid Champions League type:

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Atletico Madrid type (all competitions):

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Crew Information

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Andreas Christensen (knee), Raphinha (hamstring), Frenkie de Jong (hamstring) and Marc Bernal (ankle) shall be absent for Barcelona on Wednesday night time, however Ronald Araujo has been declared match regardless of being pressured off towards Atletico final trip.

Jules Kounde made his return from harm off the bench in Saturday’s league match, and the expectation is that the Frenchman will be capable to characteristic from the beginning on Wednesday night time.

Lewandowski can also be anticipated to be recalled within the ultimate third of the sector, however Marcus Rashford could have accomplished sufficient to maintain his spot down the left, with the on-loan Manchester United attacker more likely to be within the first XI.

As for Atletico, Jan Oblak, Marc Pubill and Rodrigo Mendoza have returned to coaching and could possibly be concerned within the European fixture with Barcelona.

Nonetheless, Pablo Barrios stays sidelined with a thigh harm, whereas Jose Gimenez (knock) and Johnny Cardoso (muscle) are seen as main doubts.

Julian Alvarez, who continues to be linked with a transfer to Barcelona, dropped to the bench towards the Catalan outfit on Saturday, however the Argentina worldwide is about to earn a recall, whereas David Hancko, Ademola Lookman and Matteo Ruggeri also needs to return.

Barcelona potential beginning lineup:

J Garcia; Kounde, Cubarsi, Martin, Cancelo; And Garcia, Pedri; Yamal, Fermin, Rashford; Lewandowski

Atletico Madrid potential beginning lineup:

Clouds; Llorente, Le Normand, Hancko, Ruggeri; Coke, Baena; Simeone, Griezmann, Lookman; Alvarez

We are saying: Barcelona 2-1 Atletico Madrid

Atletico are greater than able to leaving Camp Nou with a optimistic outcome on Wednesday night time, and we expect the tie to be open heading into the second leg, however Barcelona ought to be capable to navigate their strategy to a slim first-leg success right here.

For information evaluation of the almost certainly outcomes, scorelines and extra for this match please click on right here.