Barcelona vs Atletico Madrid
Spanish LaLiga
Tuesday, 30 June 2020.
Kick off 21:00 UK/ 22:00 CET
Camp Nou
Barca twice led to Celta Vigo on Saturday afternoon, but the Spanish champions were pegged back twice and eventually had to settle for a time when Iago Aspas came with a 88th minute leveler.
There is no doubt that the Catalan giants were desperate to get the three points, even if the result allowed them to move above Real Madrid at the top of the table.
In the current state, away from leaders Barca in second place Los Blancos is a single point, but the side of Zinedine Zidane will have the chance to return to the summit when they face Espanyol on Sunday night.
Quique Setien side returned to action earlier this month with victories back to back on Mallorca and Leganes, but they were held in Seville on June 19 before only overcome Athletic Bilbao four days later.
The games are coming thick and fast at this stage of the season and another bad result Tuesday would only increase the growing confidence of Real Madrid as the race for the title continues to accelerate.
According to Marca, a "heated discussion" took place in the Barca dressing room after the draw with Celta, with a number of s disagreement with certain methods of Setien 'players club.
Reports of unrest in the camp are hardly ideal before a clash with a shaped side Atletico, although Barca amazingly not lost to the top flight giants capital of Spain since February 2010, which is absolutely amazing.
The fact that the defending champions have a tough game following Villarreal on July 5 first met Tuesday even more important, particularly considering that Real Madrid seem to have the race easier, and the side of Zidane average appearance business as they seek to fight back the title.
Barca are more than capable of putting together a winning race between now and the end of the season, however, and it will be interesting to see what transpires when they take the field for the game.
Atletico, meanwhile, was in fact the sixth top flight before returning to action in Spain on June 14, and they were held to a 1-1 draw by Athletic Bilbao in their first match after the lockout period.
To Diego Simeone's side have been in impressive form since then, however, recording four straight wins over Osasuna, Real Valladolid, Levante and Alaves climb the table.
The capital giants have put five unanswered goals past Osasuna on June 17, but they just defeated Valladolid, Levante and Alaves in their last three, with the penalty of Diego Costa against that ultimately the crucial evidence in the match Saturday night at Wanda Metropolitano.
Atletico are currently third in the top flight of Spain, four points ahead of Sevilla fourth place, while sitting in front of fifth place Villarreal seven points, three teams of 32 matches.
This would certainly be a surprise to see Atletico fail not to finish in the top four this season, but their place is certainly in doubt because of their incompatibility before the lockout period.
Only Real Madrid (3) lost less than La Liga match at Atletico (4) this season, but it would be fair to say that too many draws (13) have cost them the chance to really fight for the title.
was again impressive defensive record of the team, conceding just 23 times in their 32 games; a total of only 41 goals at the other end is an indication of their problems, but as they only record the seventh best striker in the division, although they recently scored five against Osasuna.
next two after this match Atletico are against Mallorca and Celta and a run of four wins could quickly become seven if they can pick up a huge result at Camp Nou on Tuesday night.
The Madrid club are also still in the Champions League after overcoming impressively holders Liverpool in the last 16 stage of the back of the competition in March, and they will certainly ones to watch when the European competition resumes in August.
TEAM NEWS
Setien will be reinforced by the return of Sergio Busquets suspension and Roberto Sergi injury.
Ousmane Dembele and Frenkie de Jong are injured, while Arthur Melo is available.
Arthur is to join Juventus this summer with Miralem Pjanic to move to Barca, but the Brazilian will be available for the remainder of the 2019/20 season.
BARCELONA
Predicted line-up (4-3-3): Ter Stegen; Nelson Semedo, Pique, Lenglet, Jordi Alba; Rakitic, Busquets Vidal; Messi, Suarez, Griezmann
Not available: Dembele (Hurt), De Jong (Hurt), Sergi Roberto (Hurt), Arthur (disgraced)
doubtful:
ATLETICO MADRID
Predicted line-up (4-4-2): Oblak; Trippier, Gimenez, Felipe Renan Lodi; Carrasco Herrera Partey Saul; Llorente, Diego Costa
Not available: Hermoso (injured), Vrsaljko (injured), Savic (suspension), Koke (suspension)
doubtful:
KEY STATS
Barcelona are unbeaten in their last 28 home league games.
Barcelona have won each of their last eight home league games.
Barcelona kept a clean sheet in their last four league games at home.
Barcelona won zero in each of their last four home league matches.
Barcelona have only managed to score in 1 of their last 43 home league games.
There was less than 2.5 goals scored in each of the last 5 meetings between La Liga Barcelona and Atletico Madrid.
Atletico Madrid have won their last four league games.
Atletico Madrid are unbeaten in their last 12 matches in all competitions.
Atletico Madrid failed to score in their last 12 matches in all competitions.
Atletico Madrid scored during the first half 4 of their last 5 league games outside.
Barcelona vs Atletico Madrid Preview
The result at full time that game affect the title race, but it is in Barcelona to lose, while Simeone's men can still finish third by choosing the remaining points from 5 games.
So it will be a game of cat and mouse for the Blaugrana were beaten on their own ground, while visiting the camp have a habit of upsetting the odds. Although they had little success in this field for over a decade.
Also, if you look at mutual matches involving Barcelona, Atletico and Real this season, 5 games so far recorded less than 3 goals. We also saw a more defensive approach in matches between the three teams.
Thus, we have little reason to expect a fluid offensive game as before in previous seasons. This is why I recommend, under 2.5 goals as the best bet for this match La Liga between Barcelona and Atletico Madrid.
Along with that, I leave you the right time score 1-1 because Atletico are in decent shape and Barcelona tend to be a bit sloppy in the closing stages of games.
Barcelona vs Atletico Madrid Betting Tips
Less than 2.5 goals @ 4/5 (1.80)
FT Correct score: 1-1 @ 6/1 (7.00).
