Atletico Madrid vs Barcelona – News and Probable Lineups

This weekend, a major clash in Spanish football is set to unfold at the Metropolitano Stadium as Atletico Madrid face off against Barcelona in a crucial La Liga fixture.

These two teams are at the top of the La Liga standings, with Barcelona leading the pack with 30 points while Atletico trails close behind in second place with 28 points.

Match overview

Atletico last claimed the La Liga title in the 2020-21 season and finished fourth in Spain’s premier league last year, ending 25 points behind champions Barcelona. However, this Atletico squad looks capable of mounting a serious title challenge in the 2026-27 campaign.

Under the guidance of Diego Simeone, the team has achieved nine victories, one draw, and one defeat from their 11 league matches this season, accumulating 28 points, which places them second in the league table.

Atletico has been on a winning streak of seven league matches, recently defeating Real Madrid 2-1 before the most recent international break. They aim to head into the international hiatus with another victory against the reigning champions.

Recently, the Red and Whites earned a 2-0 win against Levante, but will come into this match reeling from a 2-0 home defeat to Bayern Munich in the Champions League group stage encounter this past Tuesday.

Atletico eliminated Barcelona from last season’s Champions League during the quarter-finals, but they have not managed to beat the Catalans in La Liga since December 2024.

Barcelona, on the other hand, has enjoyed a strong away record against Atletico in the league, remaining unbeaten since October 2021, and they will seek to uphold this impressive streak in this encounter.

Hansi Flick’s squad had their remarkable 11-game winning run come to an end on October 20 after suffering a 4-2 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League, followed by a 2-1 loss at home to Real Madrid in La Liga five days later.

Nevertheless, Barcelona bounced back with two consecutive wins, recently crushing Alaves 6-1 in their last league outing, followed by a 3-0 victory over Aston Villa in the Champions League on Tuesday night.

Currently sitting at the top of the La Liga table with 30 points, Barcelona has impressively netted 46 goals across their 11 domestic matches, which is more than double Atletico’s tally of 22 goals.

The Catalan team is once again a favorite to win the title, but the recent setback against Real Madrid was a significant blow, setting the stage for an intriguing showdown in the Spanish capital on Sunday, where second faces first.

Team News

Atletico will miss Cristian Romero (muscle) and Johnny Cardoso (thigh) due to injury, but Morten Hjulmand is expected to return to the squad after missing the recent Champions League match against Bayern because of injury.

Lee Kang-in is anticipated to be reinstated in the starting lineup on Sunday, likely partnering Julian Alvarez in the forward positions.

Alvarez will be looking to take on the team he aimed to join over the summer, aiming to add to his solitary league goal from the 2026-27 season.

For Barcelona, Dani Olmo (adductor), Roony Bardghji (knee), and Xavi Espart (ankle) will definitely miss out on the match, while Eric Garcia (thigh), Jules Kounde (ankle), and Andreas Christensen (thigh) are all expected to undergo late assessments.

Rodri (hamstring) had to leave the pitch in the last match against Aston Villa and will also be sidelined, which may lead to Marc Bernal teaming up with Pedri in midfield.

Brian Farinas should maintain his position as right-back for Barcelona, with Anthony Gordon projected to join Lamine Yamal and Raphinha in the offensive third.

Atletico Madrid probable starting XI:

Oblak; Llorente, Pubill, Hancko, Grimaldo; Simeone, Barrios, Hjulmand, Baena; Lee, Alvarez

Barcelona probable starting XI:

J Garcia; Farinas, Cubarsi, Martin, Cancelo; Bernal, Pedri; Yamal, Fermin, Gordon; Raphinha

This encounter is challenging to predict; we nearly leaned towards a draw – either 1-1 or 2-2 – but have ultimately opted for a slight edge for the defending champions.