Defending champions Barcelona go into the game at the league leaders with Los Rojiblancos in the fourth position. Barcelona booked their spot in the Champions League R16 with a 3-1 win over Dortmund this midweek. Atletico lost 1-0 against Juventus and will have to win their next match to qualify.
Atletico have lost just once in La Liga but their campaign has been a frustrating one as they’ve dropped many points by playing out a draw (7). Barcelona, on the other hand, have been struggling in away games and will have to improve if they want to enjoy their first victory at Wanda.
If recent history is taken into account, this has proven to be a tough fixture for Atletico, winless in their last eight games against Barcelona, their last win coming in September 2016. With an all-important La Liga fixture between Atletico and Barcelona this weekend, we take a look at five previous meetings between the two Spanish sides at Wanda Metropolitano.
1. Barcelona 2-0 Atletico Madrid (La Liga)
Date – 7th April 2019
Venue – Camp Nou
Barcelona started the game brightly with Alba hitting the post and Coutinho’s effort being saved by Oblak. There were no goals in the first-half but it was full of drama as Diego Costa was sent off by the referee for using foul and abusive language. Barcelona left it late to secure the victory. Suarez opened the scoring in the 85th minute and Messi secured the win one minute later. Barcelona went 11 points clear of Atletico at the top after the win.
2. Atletico Madrid 1-1 Barcelona (La Liga)
Date – 25th November 2018
Venue – Wanda Metropolitano
Atletico were the better team throughout the match. They were able to stop Barcelona from creating chances and were defensively solid, allowing Barca just two shots on target. Costa broke the deadlock in the 77th min. Barcelona were left frustrated and were denied any space to play through all game. Valverde’s attacking substitutions helped, as Dembele levelled the score in the 90th min. Atletico were disappointed as they weren’t able to hold the lead.
3. Barcelona 1-0 Atletico Madrid (La Liga)
Date – 4th March 2018
Venue – Camp Nou
Messi broke the deadlock in the 26th minutes with a sublime freekick, which was his 600th career goal. Atletico defended in numbers throughout the game and looked to play on the counters against the Catalans. Atletico made some attacking substitutions and brought on Correa and Gameiro in hope of keeping their title challenge alive but they failed as Barcelona went away with all three points.
4. Atletico Madrid 1-1 Barcelona (La Liga)
Date – 15th October 2017
Venue – Wanda Metropolitano
Matchday 8 of La Liga 2017/18 saw Barcelona’s 100% record under Valverde in La Liga come to an end as they drew 1-1 against Atletico. Saul Niguez put Atletico ahead in the first half and it looked like Barcelona were heading towards their first defeat of the campaign. But Barcelona started creating chances in the last 25 mins and eventually got their equalizer through Luis Suarez’s header. Atletico were again disappointed to drop three points but Barcelona deserved a point because they were more adventurous in the second half and created many chances.
5. Atletico Madrid 1-2 Barcelona (La Liga)
Date – 26th February 2017
Venue – Vicente Calderon
Barcelona were second best for most of the 1st half, but they slowly grew into the game in the 2nd half. Rafinha opened the scoring for the Catalans in the 64th minute. Godin equalized with a header six minutes later after Busquets needlessly gave away a freekick, allowing Koke to curl a cross into the box right on to the head of Godin, who then equalized. Messi scored the winner with just four minutes remaining. Simeone’s men tried to push for an equalizer but they weren’t able to do so as Barcelona were easily able to deal with the danger.
Barcelona vs Atletico Madrid flashback
