Top of the table battle in Spain
Christian Bertrand / Shutterstock.com
La Liga table toppers Barcelona travel to the WANDA Metropolitano Stadium on Saturday to clash with second place Atletico Madrid. The latter can go top of La Liga with a win. Barcelona go into the fixture having lost in their last domestic match, 4-3, to Real Betis.
Manager Ernesto Valverde has seen his Barcelona team underperform this season and slip up on several occasions. Barcelona have dropped seven points in their last six matches leaving the race for the La Liga title up for grabs.
Atletico have had their own issues. Top players started the season slowly following the World Cup and they have blown hot and cold. Atletico are undefeated at home, but on the road, they have struggled, winning just once in six matches. For a top of the table team, Diego Simeone’s men do not score a lot of goals.
Atletico have recorded just 16 with Antoine Griezmann scoring three times. Disappointingly, striker Diego Costa is yet to find the back of the net after nine appearances. Despite the lack of goal scoring, Atletico are built on defence. Simeone preaches a defend first, attack second mentality and it has led Atletico to giving up just eight goals. It is the fewest number of goals allowed by any team in La Liga. Playing at home this term, Atletico have conceded just once in six games.
Barcelona will have their hands full, but they have played well on the road. In five away games, Barcelona have won three times while drawing once. The Catalans lead La Liga in goals scored with 34, but it is their defence that has been the weak link. Prior to the international break, Barcelona allowed four goals to Real Betis. Teams are not afraid to attack Barcelona anymore and it seems opponents have realised their defence is vulnerable.
Saturday night’s fixture will be a titanic affair. Barcelona are undefeated in 25 of their last 27 away games in La Liga. Meanwhile, Atletico have won their last four domestic home matches. Atletico have not beaten Barcelona in their last six meetings in all competitions, losing three and drawing three times.
Games between the two teams do not yield many goals as Barcelona have outscored Atletico just 8-5 in six games in all competitions. Their games have seen quite a number of cards as 37 yellow cards and three red cards have been handed out.
Sportsbooks have Barcelona as the favourite, but these two sides are quite evenly matched. Atletico earned a drawn the last time Barcelona visited the WANDA and that is the result that will occur on Saturday. Neither team will be able to get the upper-hand and they will have to settle for a draw in what should be a fiery affair.
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