Atlético Madrid will host FC Barcelona on Saturday night, starting an unprecedented 10-day period where the two clubs will meet three times.
This LALIGA clash against the league’s table toppers is Atleti’s first match since the 3-2 loss at the Bernabéu before the international break.
With the seemingly more-important fixture against Barça coming up next week in the UEFA Champions League, we could see a lineup with planned — and enforced — rotation from Diego
Simeone. Barcelona won’t want to drop points in their bid to wrap up a second consecutive league title, so will need Hansi Flick to make considered decisions in his own injury-affected team selection.
Atlético (17-6-6, 57 points) had seen an improvement in their league form before the loss to Real Madrid, winning four straight matches in LALIGA — albeit by a singular goal in three of those. They find themselves in fourth place, a point away from Villarreal in third and a whopping 16 points off top spot.
That top spot is held by a Barcelona side (24-1-4, 73 points) who have won eight of their last nine league encounters, but who have only managed two wins in their last four on the road. All four of their defeats this campaign have come away from their own stadium(s), and Atleti will be looking to make it a fifth.
These two very familiar foes have already come up against each other three times this season, with the reverse league fixture ending in a 3-1 home win for the blaugranes. That was a match in which Atleti took the lead, just as they did last time out against Real Madrid, but the Rojiblancos were unable to stop the Catalans from getting the better of them.
This time around, Barcelona will have to do without one of the players who was crucial to that win and many others. Raphinha picked up an injury on international duty with Brazil that has ruled him out for five weeks, meaning he won’t be available for any of the three Atleti-Barça games coming up. That’s a huge blow, considering his absence from three of the four league losses his team has suffered this season.
Team news
Atleti aren’t without injuries of their own, particularly in midfield. Johnny Cardoso came back from his latest run out on USMNT duty with an injury that has set him back by two weeks. His absence, as well as Pablo Barrios‘ slow return to fitness, Rodrigo Mendoza still on the mend and Marcos Llorente‘s suspension, means El Cholo will have no other option other than to slot Obed Vargas into midfield alongside Koke.
The captain has had a well-earned rest over the last two weeks, and Vargas played less than 90 minutes across Mexico’s two matches, giving them a good chance of being able to play the full game without the need to be substituted off.
Vargas’ inclusion will be subject to Simeone’s willingness to include the youngster in such an important match, with the possibility of dragging two more offensively-minded players back a line also a reality. For this to happen, the midfield would need to be structured in a three, with Koke sitting deep and Antoine Griezmann and Álex Baena either side.
Also unavailable will be Marcus Pubill, who is still recovering from an injury that kept him from making his first appearance in the Spain national team squad and jeopardising his chances of heading to the World Cup this summer. Robin Le Normand will be expected to line up alongside Dávid Hancko at the back, considering the former’s freshness and José María Giménez‘s recent dodgy form plus minutes with Uruguay.
To add to concerns, Alexander Sørloth suffered a nasty head injury that has all but ruled out his chances of featuring in this fixture that he adores so much. The Norwegian has bagged seven goals in 12 total appearances against Barcelona, but is unlikely to add to that tally this weekend. Julián Alvarez, Giuliano Simeone and Ademola Lookman will have to take on the role of goalscorers instead.
Last on this long list of usual starters out of action is Jan Oblak, who remains unavailable with his extended injury. Luckily for Los Rojiblancos, Juan Musso is probably the best backup goalkeeper any team can wish for, fresh from making his first Argentina appearance in nearly five years.
Predicted lineup
Musso; Molina, Le Normand, Hancko, Ruggeri; Koke, Baena, Griezmann; Giuliano, Alvarez, Lookman.
