Would you have loved to be involved in one of the biggest games in the Spanish top-flight in your current form ? Barcelona will have to answer this question when they travel to the Estadio Wanda Metropolitano on Saturday evening.
Barcelona’s Dutch midfielder Frenkie De Jong reacts to a missed goal opportunity during the Spanish league football match FC Barcelona against Club Atletico de Madrid at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona on May 8, 2021. (Photo by Josep LAGO / AFP) (Photo by JOSEP LAGO/AFP via Getty Images)
Atletico Madrid and Barcelona square up in a mouthwatering league clash this weekend and either side will be looking to exploit the weakness of the other to stake a strong claim for their title challenge.
Both sides have not been convincing this term and host, Atletico were beaten for the first time this season the last time out in the league by Alaves, who in the process picked up their first points of the season.
They were on the favourite end of poor officiating in their mid-week Champions league game in Milan, where they come from behind to beat their host 2-1 in controversial circumstance.
Barcelona have had a worse start to the season compared to their rival. Though, the Ronald Koeman side are yet to be beaten in the league but their overall performance have been disappointing so far.
They are yet to pick up any point in the Champions league, losing to Bayern Munich and Benfica in the same 3-0 score-line. With three wins and as many draws in the league, they are five points off top spot but with a game in hand.
Their poor start to the season has put manager Ronald Koeman under severe pressure as rumours of him being dismissed will not go away. He will however not be on the side line on Saturday as he serves the second of his two game ban.
Atletico Madrid are unbeaten in the last four games against Barcelona with two wins and as many draws, that was after Barcelona have enjoyed a dominant nine game unbeaten run against Diego Simeone side.
Frenkie de Jong will return to the side after missing last weekend win over Levante due to suspension. Gerard Pique is also expected to be fit in time after been withdrawn due to a knock in the mid-week Champion league game.
Sergio Aguero, Ousmane Dembele and Martin Braithwaite will remain absent while the host have no injury concern for this clash.
On Sunday, Real Madrid will be in action away to Espanyol and will be looking to extend their lead at the top of the standing.
Real Madrid disappointingly lost to Champion league first timers Sheriff Tiraspol in the mid-week and will be looking to bounce back against a side whom they have beaten 19 times in their last 22 meetings, losing just once.
The Espanyol game present Carlo Ancelotti an avenue to get things right and relief the tense atmosphere around the club amidst a disappointing night in Europe.
Afolabi Kehinde Hassan
