Barcelona vs Atletico Madrid – UEFA Champions League – Preview

Posted on April 5, 2016 by Sreya

Barcelona hosts Atletico Madrid at El Camp Nou on 5th April, Tuesday in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League quarter-final fixture.

Barcelona’s defeat to Real Madrid this past weekend in the El Clasico is likely to motivate the Catalan club to perform better while Diego Simeone’s side will enter the match with the belief that they can come away from Camp Nou with a positive result.

Barcelona defeated Arsenal in a comprehensive fashion in their Round of 16 fixture, while Atletico Madrid got past Dutch club PSV on penalties after two goalless draws home and away.

Team News

Sandro Ramirez, Adriano and Jeremy Mathieu are sidelined through injuries for Barcelona. Atletico Madrid will be without Tiago who is recuperating from a broken leg.

Barcelona Possible Starting Lineup: Andre Ter Stegen, Dani Alves, Gerard Piqué, Javier Mascherano, Jordi Alba, Sergio Busquets, Ivan Rakitić, Andres Iniesta, Lionel Messi, Luis Suárez, Neymar.

Atletico Madrid Possible Starting Lineup: Jan Oblak; Juanfran, Lucas, Diego Godín, Filipe Luís; Gabi, Saúl, Augusto Fernandez, Koke; Antoinne Griezmann, Fernando Torres.

Thoughts From Both Camps

“We want to prove that we are still the team that has won everything. We want to win it all again that. Atlético have had a spectacular season, so it’s going be more complicated than Saturday. They know how to defend and are really good on the counter.

It all boils down to how we play. We want the ball, to pass it around quickly. And we want the fans to support us at they did on Saturday. If they do that, we will be unstoppable.”

– Gerard Pique, Barcelona.

“Both teams know each other very well. so I don’t think there is much room for surprise. They play a specific type of football and they play spectacular well under Luis Enrique.”

– Diego Simeone, Atletico Madrid.

Contributor’s Pick

According to Head-2-Head statistics, the previous six matches between these two sides in all competitions have been won by Barcelona. Although Atletico are undefeated in their last six UEFA Champions League matches, keeping a clean sheet in five of those, Barcelona will start the game as firm favorites.

With Barcelona scoring a minimum of two goals in six of their last seven European games, the first leg is likely to be a high-scoring affair. The last time these two sides met each other in 2013/14 season at a similar stage, Atletico Madrid won 2-1 on aggregate.

Barcelona are likely to win the first leg by a scoreline of 2-1.