Three talking points ahead of Atletico Madrid vs Barcelona | UEFA Champions League

The fairytale script didn’t have Barcelona chasing a deficit away from house within the second leg of the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals, however it simply so occurs that they face that scenario tomorrow night time.

Atletico Madrid weren’t the higher aspect over 90 minutes within the first leg on the Spotify Camp Nou final week, however a numerical benefit after Pau Cubarsi’s pink card helped them take a 2-0 lead into the reverse fixture.

Barcelona now want a turnaround with no less than three targets scored and a clear sheet within the best-case state of affairs, each of which is not going to be straightforward towards the group that already eradicated them within the Copa del Rey.

But, there’s a sense of perception within the dressing room and the fanbase. Whatever the outcome tomorrow night time, the sport can be a spectacle to behold.

Barça Common brings you three speaking factors forward of Atletico Madrid vs Barcelona.

Removed from accomplished

Heading into the Riyadh Air Metropolitano trailing by two targets seems daunting sufficient, however it’s clear that the sport is way from over.

In any case, Barcelona have overwhelmed Los Rojiblancos thrice this season and have been the superior aspect for the bigger a part of the time they’ve shared the sector with them.

A two-goal lead is certainly vital, however it’s removed from being sufficient to put in writing a sport off, extra so one towards a group with the attacking assets that Barcelona possess.

How Atletico Madrid strategy the sport will resolve a big a part of the outcome and the movement of proceedings on the night time, and Diego Simeone has already hinted that he has a transparent plan in place.

If Atletico Madrid enter the sport trying to defend their lead, Barcelona will go on an all-out assault and swarm the field with attackers, leaving it solely a matter of time earlier than a aim is scored.

Quite the opposite, if Atletico Madrid press excessive, Barcelona must be cautious of conceding a 3rd however will even have areas to run into behind the defence and capitalise on. In both state of affairs, the sport will not be over.

Perception is all of the dressing room wants, and in the event that they put up a efficiency even near what they did within the second leg of the Copa del Rey semifinal, they need to have the ability to make it into the ultimate 4.

A should be scientific

Creating goal-scoring alternatives has by no means been Barcelona’s limitation, extra so beneath Hansi Flick. What has held them again this season, nonetheless, is an absence of effectivity in entrance of aim.

The stark distinction between the primary and second leg towards Newcastle within the UEFA Champions League, in itself, speaks volumes about Barcelona’s attacking prowess and what effectivity can remodel them into.

What Flick’s males require tomorrow, in a lot abundance, is confidence and effectivity in entrance of aim, for the probabilities will arrive regardless. Benefiting from them will outline the comeback.

The supervisor has some main choices to make on that entrance, particularly in a range sense within the ahead line.

For starters, the choice between Ferran Torres and Robert Lewandowski can be essential as it would outline the goal man and the participant’s model.

Equally, whether or not or not Marcus Rashford begins on the left or Flick prefers Joao Cancelo or an added midfielder will even dictate the goalscoring dynamics, buildup sample and even the management of the sport.

Lastly, there’s a query on whether or not Fermin Lopez or Dani Olmo ought to begin, and whereas the latter could appear the apparent selection given his consolation in between tight strains, the latter’s means to attain targets from distance might show helpful in a cagey sport.

Who will accomplice with Pedri?

Barcelona’s midfield has been cursed with poor timing harm setbacks at an important level within the season.

Simply when Pedri was recovering from his setback, Frenkie de Jong was dominated out with an harm, and when the Dutchman approached near his return, Marc Bernal suffered a blow.

Heading into tomorrow’s sport, Barcelona’s solely assured starter within the double pivot is Pedri, who has been carrying fatigue for some time now however has no choice however to play as soon as extra.

Who companions with him on the night time, for sure, will go a good distance in deciding how the group form up in possession and within the buildup part.

De Jong is the best choice to start out, and he did make a brief cameo off the bench towards Espanyol. The query, nonetheless, is whether or not he’s prepared for a begin at such excessive depth already.

Bernal’s scenario is even much less optimistic, and it’s unlikely that the participant can characteristic with out injections – a step Flick is extremely unlikely to go for.

The supervisor’s different massive choice is Gavi, who has made a speedy return to dynamics and even began towards Espanyol. Whereas he has seemed advantageous and match, beginning him in a sport with such excessive depth might play on Flick’s thoughts as a hurdle.

The ultimate choice for the coach is to maintain Eric Garcia within the pivot and begin Ronald Araujo alongside Gerard Martin – once more a raffle he is likely to be reluctant to take.

Who begins in midfield, thus, is a giant query that Flick doesn’t have lengthy to reply. His selection, for sure, will resolve how dominant and high-pressure the Catalans may be on the night time.