Atletico Madrid vs Barcelona

La Liga pacesetters Barcelona take a tantalizing trip to the Metropolitano Stadium to encounter bitter rivals Atletico Madrid in a behemoth league fixture.

Atletico Madrid followed up a 2-0 La Liga victory over Elche, which helped them arrest an underwhelming three-game winless league run (D1, L2), with an identical triumph over Real Oviedo in midweek Copa del Rey action, making it four wins in a row. Without the distraction of Champions League football following an unexpected group-stage exit, ‘Los Rojiblancos’ can focus on eking out a top-four finish in La Liga, where they’re currently two points clear of fifth-placed Real Betis. Atletico’s top-four credentials face a stern test in the shape of a Barcelona side they’ve defeated in their last two top-flight encounters at home. The Metropolitano Stadium has not been an unbreachable fortress this season, as evidenced by Madrid’s indifferent seven-game league record (W3, D3, L2), yet they’re unbeaten in their last four on home turf (W2, D2).

On the other hand, Barcelona carried a two-point lead over Real Madrid into the World Cup break. But a frustrating 1-1 home draw with Espanyol, combined with Madrid’s triumph over Real Valladolid, puts the two sides on a par at the start of this round. Xavi Hernandez’s men have been a formidable defensive unit this season and remain the only side in La Liga to have conceded under ten goals ahead of this round (6). Moreover, except for a 3-1 El Clasico defeat at Santiago Bernabeu, the Catalan giants have won their remaining six away league matches in 2022/23 by an aggregate score of 15-2. Speaking of Barcelona’s high-flying form on the road, they’ve won 12 of their last 14 La Liga outings outside Camp Nou (D1, L1), having won just four of their previous 14 away from home (D8, L2).