FC Barcelona and Atletico Madrid meet in a match of the 31st round of La Liga. The confrontation will be disputed Saturday, at 19:45, on Camp Nou.
In the course of this season, the two bands drew in the dispute from Wanda Metropolitano, score 1-1. Not less than 8 yellow cards or showed in a game where the hosts led to the 90th minute, thanks to the goal scored by Diego Costa (77 ‘), but they were equated with the success of Ousmane Dembele.
Ernesto Valverde’s band is at 8 points ahead of Atletico Madrid and a success in the 8-point straight before the end of the season would end the fight for the La Liga title. Since the defeat in the quarter-finals of the Spanish Cup finals, 0-2 in Seville (January 23), the “Catalans” are unbeaten in official matches, recording 10 wins and 5 draws. In the previous round, Barcelona went to Villareal, where the most spectacular match of the week was played, with the score 4-4.
The main contra-candidate for the title is on this duel after a series of two consecutive wins won at La Liga, 4-0 at Alaves and 2-0 with Girona. Atletico has a balanced balance, 6 wins, 6 draws and only 3 defeats in the championship.
Diego Costa is expected to return to the first team of the Madrid team, the Iberian striker being absent in the last round, his success against those in Girona. Lucas Hernandez, Thomas Lemar and Alvaro Morata (injured) are the only absences of Diego Simeone for the Camp Nou dispute, while hosts will not be able to rely on Rafinha, Ousmane Dembele (injured) and Arturo Vidal (suspended).
Probable teams
FC Barcelona: Stegen – Roberto, Pique, Lenglet, Alba – Rakitic, Busquets, Arthur – Messi, Suarez, Coutinho;
Atletico Madrid: Cloud – Arias, Gimenes, Godin, Luis – Niguez, Partey, Rodrigo, Koke – Griezmann, Costa;
In the last two direct disputes, the “Catalans” have received a maximum of a yellow card in the first half and it is expected that this forecast will be winner also this time, considering that the match is played on Camp Nou, where the hosts will have the possession . Atletico can not afford to play in this confrontation, if Diego Simeone wants him and his team to remain in the fight for the title.
PREDICTION: Barcelona to win @ 1.78
