Atletico Madrid enter this clash following a string of strong performances. Simeone’s men are in fine form and will be looking to keep their good momentum going. They sit 11th in the points table in the Champions League.
In six games, they have won four and lost two. Their last fixture ended in a 3-1 win over Slovan Bratislava. Even though their 15-match unbeaten streak ended by losing to Leganes by 1-0, they still have the quality to bounce back from that defeat. Not many people expected them to perform like this but Simeone’s men proved every critic wrong, as they are also in the title race in LaLiga.
On the other hand, Alonso’s men are also in good form and are sitting second in the points table in the Bundesliga. In UCL they are sitting in the fourth spot with 13 points. Out of six games they have won four, drew one and lost one.
Both teams will not be missing many players for this upcoming fixture and surely this match will be a one to watch. Last time out this fixture had a lot of intensity and once again we can expect the same.
Barrios is a brilliant midfielder who is fundamentally oriented on producing offensive plays. Due to his incessant running, he dominates play in every facet of the field. The Spaniard’s greatest brilliance lies in his proper positioning and stances.
Despite being small in stature his core strength makes him standout. His playing style is very similar to Pablo Gavi of FC Barcelona. His hunger to win the ball in every situation creates a lot of trouble for the opposition players. He perfectly fits Simeone’s style of play. In 15 games, he has provided two assists.
Granti Xhaka professionalism and determination have drawn praise from many managers. On the pitch, Xhaka’s voice is constant throughout the 90 minutes, shouting instructions at teammates and organizing the team from his favourite deep midfield role. The Swiss international excels as the deepest midfielder in the team where he is able to see the whole game in front of him rather than having his back to goal.
His main role is to propel the team forward by supplying balls down the flank. Xahaka’s vision and technique help him to find spaces to exploit as he is equally good at scoring as well as providing assists. In 17 games, he has scored two goals and provided five assists.
