La Liga’s top two will play on Saturday evening as Barcelona host Atletico Madrid at the Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys.
The Catalan giants have just about held on to their status as league leaders despite winning just one of their last six domestic matches, although they have played a game more than both Madrid clubs.
Hansi Flick’s honeymoon period has firmly come to a close, with Sunday’s battle against Atletico potentially having enormous ramifications in the title race.
Atleti are level on points with Barcelona and will leapfrog them with victory in Catalonia. Diego Simeone’s men have won their last 11 matches in all competitions and have soared up the table as a result of their recent form.
Barcelona will be without the services of Lamine Yamal this weekend after the teenager sustained an ankle injury against Leganes last time out. He could be sidelined for up to a month for La Blaugrana.
Marc Bernal and Marc-Andre ter Stegen are both guaranteed to miss out on Atleti’s visit but Andreas Christensen and Ansu Fati could feature in the matchday squad. However, the likelihood is they will return after the winter break.
Ronald Araujo is available once again and has been named on the bench for the last two matches. Given the length of his injury, he’s only likely to be used as a substitute this weekend.
Barcelona lineup vs Atletico Madrid (4-2-3-1): Pena; Kounde, Cubarsi, Martinez, Balde; Casado, Pedri; Lopez, Olmo, Raphinha; Lewandowski.
Atleti are blessed with an entirely fit squad for the journey to Barcelona but Simeone is unlikely to make many changes from the team that beat Getafe most recently. Los Rojiblancos have been in terrific form and the South American coach won’t want to disturb a winning formula.
Simeone has employed a 4-4-2 set-up in recent weeks and is likely to use the same system on Saturday. Julian Alvarez and Antoine Griezmann will lead the line, while Rodrigo De Paul and Pablo Barrios are likely to anchor the midfield. Former Barca defender Clement Lenglet will feature with Jose Maria Gimenez in the heart of defence.
