Barcelona vs Atlético Madrid - A Clash Of Spanish Titans

Next Tuesday, Atlético Madrid will measure forces with Barcelona at Camp Nou for the Quarter-finals first leg of the UEFA Champions League. The Colchoneros have been almost flawless at this competition throughout the season, winning all the matches they have played so far with the exception from a small upset at the Petrovsky Stadium against Zenit St. Petersburg during the group stage. Diego Simeone keeps reinventing Atlético Madrid ever since he arrived there in 2011 and he is slowly transforming the team into one of the most fear-inspiring sides of European football.

For next Tuesday’s match, the Argentinean boss will be able to count on almost his entire squad, with the exception of the 19-year old Javi Manquillo that is out due to a back injury.

As for Barcelona, next Tuesday’s match will be utterly important since the team is looking for their seventh consecutive UEFA Champions League semi-final appearance. The Blaugranas have been far from impressive during this campaign’s group stage and they were even defeated at The Netherlands by an inspired Ajax side back in November. Plenty of time has passed, though, and the current Barcelona seem far more stronger, consistent and with sky-high confidence levels thanks to recent streak of positive results at La Liga.

Both teams have met several times this season: first for the Spanish Super Cup, with Barcelona claiming the trophy thanks to two draws (0-0 at Camp Nou and 1-1 at Madrid), and later another goalless draw when both teams measured forces on round 19 of La Liga at Vicente Calderón.

Next Tuesday’s Camp Nou match will certainly pose yet another opportunity for both sides to prove who is enjoying the best moment at this particular moment, thus offering supporters another unique chance to witness a great tactical battle between two top class Argentinean managers. By playing home, one must say that Barcelona have everything in their favour and will probably try to tip the scales for their team already during this first leg round; however, Simeone’s Atlético Madrid are not one of those teams that are easily intimidated and not even almost 90 000 supporters will be enough to mame the Colchoneros’ aspirations.

Barcelona: W-4 L-1 D-1

Recent Form: DWLWWW

Atlético Madrid: W-5 L0- D-1

Recent Form: WWDWWW

Possible Line-ups

Barcelona (4-3-3) – Valdés - Dani Alves - Piqué - Mascherano - J.Alba - Busquets - Xavi - Iniesta - Neymar - Fàbegras - Messi.

Atlético Madrid (4-4-1-1) – Courtois - Juanfran - Miranda - Godin - Filipe Luis - Tiago - Gabi - Koke - Turan - Diego - Diego Costa

Prediction

Barcelona 1 Atlético Madrid 1

Best Pick

Draw 1-1 8/1 @ William Hill