Barcelona and Atlético Madrid meet at the Metropolitano on Sunday in one of the most anticipated fixtures of LaLiga’s 12th matchday, with the leaders separated from third place by only three points. The match kicks off at 4:00 pm local time and will be broadcast on ESPN.
A chance to close the gap
Barcelona sit top with 30 points after 11 rounds, while Real Madrid are third with 27. Atlético, currently second, have a chance to move to the summit with a win over the Catalans, who beat them on matchday 11.
Diego Simeone’s side have reason for optimism. Barcelona have shown defensive cracks recently, losing to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League and to Real Madrid in LaLiga. Last season, Atlético knocked Barcelona out of both the Champions League and the Copa del Rey.
Simeone’s recipe
Atlético’s approach in those meetings relied on high pressing, compact spaces and the pace of their forwards. Simeone is expected to use the same ideas again, targeting a Barcelona back line that can be exposed when it is under pressure.
Julián Álvarez’s situation
The fixture also carries a personal subplot. Argentine striker Julián Álvarez spent the summer transfer window pushing for a move to Barcelona, but he ended up staying at Atlético after the club’s president, Enrique Cerezo, shut down the possibility of a transfer. Now he faces his potential new club at his current home ground.
Flick’s selection problems
Barcelona coach Hansi Flick will be without Dani Olmo and Rodri, the midfielder who is key to the team’s structure. That leaves Flick with a difficult choice: move Pedri into the deeper role of a holding midfielder, or turn to Frenkie De Jong, who is in the final stage of his recovery from injury.
Rest of the round
Real Madrid travel to Mestalla on Saturday to face Valencia, where José Mourinho’s side will be without Vinícius, who is serving the last match of his suspension following his red card and protest against Villarreal. Matchday 12 will also be marked by mourning in Spanish football after the death of Tenerife player Jesús de Miguel, who will be remembered at every game of the round.
Source: www.balonazos.com
