On Sunday evening Wanda Metropolitano stadium prepares to witness a massive La Liga showdown between Atletico Madrid and Barcelona which stands as one of the most pivotal matches of the present campaign.
Barcelona leads La Liga as leaders while Atletico Madrid holds the position of third-place but both teams come into this match after Champions League series.
Atletico Madrid lost their Champions League place to Real Madrid through penalties after Julian Alvarez scored the match-deciding spot kicks at the Wanda Metropolitano stadium.
The 1-0 victory over Real Madrid in their last-16 Champions League tie provided Atletico with excellent performance confidence but Simeone's team remained without victory against their rivals in the competition this season.
Atletico Madrid cannot deny themselves a double victory this season because their Copa del Rey semi-final match against Barcelona approaches and the two teams maintain a 4-4 draw after the opening contest.
The Spanish League shows the Red and Whites placed in third position yet just a single point separates them from Barcelona although the Catalan team holds one additional match to play.
The home matches serve as Atletico's strongest point in La Liga this season because they have secured 34 points from 14 home competitions though they suffered a title-damaging loss to Getafe in their latest league fixture which ended in 2-1 defeat.
Atletico Madrid have been formidable at home this season, but Barcelona boast the best away record in La Liga, having earned 30 points from 14 matches on the road. Their impressive away form includes nine wins, three draws, and just two losses.
Under Hansi Flick’s leadership, Barcelona remain in contention for a treble this season. They recently advanced to the Champions League quarter-finals after a 3-1 victory over Benfica in the second leg of their last-16 tie on Tuesday night.
Last weekend, Barcelona’s scheduled La Liga match against Osasuna was postponed following the tragic passing of their first-team doctor, Carles Minarro Garcia, just hours before kickoff. This postponement means Barcelona now have a game in hand over rivals Real Madrid and Atletico, further solidifying their position at the top of the table.
Barcelona’s attacking prowess has been a standout feature this season, with the team scoring 71 goals in 26 league games. Key players like Robert Lewandowski, Raphinha, and Lamine Yamal have all been in exceptional form.
However, Barcelona have struggled against Atletico this season, losing 2-1 in their league encounter back in September and drawing 4-4 in the first leg of their Copa del Rey semi-final in February. Despite these setbacks, the Catalan giants will draw confidence from their last visit to the Wanda Metropolitano, where they secured a convincing 3-0 victory in the corresponding fixture last season.
