PREVIEW | FC Barcelona v Atlético Madrid
Here we go again. And this time in the biggest competition of them all. FC Barcelona and Atlético Madrid have already met each other four times this season (one just this last weekend) and they now have another two games in the space of just six days. And these aren't any old matches.
There is nothing less than a place in the semi-finals of the Champions League at stake, against either Sporting Clube or Arsenal (the Londoners won Tuesday's first leg 1-0).
The story so far
The first meeting between the sides came in the league in December. Barça came from behind to win 3-1 at Spotify Camp Nou.
The two teams were then drawn together in the Copa del Rey semi-finals. The first half of the first leg at the Metropolitano was a nightmare for the Catalans, when a rampant Atlético scored all their goals in a 4-0 win. Barça refused to believe they couldn't turn things around in front of their own fans, and the miracle very, very nearly happened. Barça led 3-0 and still had time to spare for a fourth, but it never came.
And so to last Saturday, when they met in the league at the Metropoliano. The first half ended 1-1, but also with Atlético down to ten men, and things weren't decided until the very final minutes, when Robert Lewandowski chested in the goal that has established a seven-point lead for Barça in La Liga.
But this Wednesday's 9pm CET kick-off at Spotify Camp Nou promises to be a very different game. Atlético are out of the Liga title race and their current fourth place is under no immediate threat. Coach Diego Simeone was clearly reserving his forces for the competition his team can still win.
History v Simeone
In 30 league meetings since Diego Simeone took charge of Atlético Madrid way back in 2011, Barça have only lost to the mattress-makers twice.
But that impressive Liga record stands in direct contrast to what happened on the two previous occasions when Barça faced Simeone's side in the Champions League, ominously also in the quarter finals. In both 2014 and 2016, Atlético progressed 3-2 on aggregate. Atlético have already shown us this season what a fierce opponent they can be. When it comes to the European stage, they are even fiercer still.
How they got here
Despite losing to both Liverpool and Arsenal, Atlético were on course for a top eight finish in the League Phase before a shock 2-1 defeat at home to Bodø/Glimt of Norway on the final day.
That condemned them to a playoff against Club Brugge, which they eventually won 7-4 on aggregate, and then a stunning display against Tottenham in the round of 16, winning the first leg 5-2 at home and eventually claiming the tie 7-5 on aggregate.
Barça's top eight finish meant they bypassed the playoffs and went directly into a round of 16 tie with Newcastle, amazing everyone with their stunning 7-2 victory in the second leg after drawing 1-1 at St James Park.
Team news
Not only did Atlético play over half of Saturday's game a man down, but the likes of Julián Álvarez, Ademola Lookman and David Hancko didn't feature at all, and Matteo Ruggeri and Alexander Sorloth came off the bench. They were also without the suspended Marcos Llorente, while Marc Pubill and Rodri Mendoza were out injured but have since been declared fit.
Atlético are still missing their goalkeeper Jan Oblak, although his replacement, Juan Musso, was one of the standout players at the weekend. Johnny Cardoso and Pablo Barrios remain injured, and Uruguayan defender José María Giménez is a new casualty in the visiting side.
As for Barça, Raphinha, Frenkie De Jong, Marc Bernal and Andreas Christensen are all out through injury. The good news is that although Ronald Araujo retired early from the weekend fixture, it's nothing to prevent him from playing in today's game.
A further worry is that any of Lamine Yamal, Gerard Martín, Fermín López or Marc Casadó would miss the second leg should they get booked on Wednesday. However, Atlético have even more to fret about in that department, for they have as many as eight players in danger of missing next Tuesday's second leg.
What they're saying
Hansi Flick: "It's true that on Saturday [the 2-1 win at Atlético in La Liga] a lot of their players rested but they were still very good. They like to defend deep and it's not easy scoring twice at Atlético. I hope the physical aspect is not decisive." FULL STORY
João Cancelo: "We all dream about going through the tie, but there is a team that wants the same as us. We'll do what we can and are highly motivated to go through and reach the semifinals.” FULL STORY