Copa del Rey champions FC Barcelona host league leaders Atletico Madrid at Camp Nou this weekend. With both teams out of all tournaments, the only target is to win the league.
Atletico Madrid have lost least games in La Liga this season (4), but their league campaign has been frustrating lately. Atletico have dropped more than 20 points this year and have made the title fight interesting. Barcelona could have been level on points with Atletico but they failed to convert their chances against Granada as they lost 2-1 at home.
If recent history is taken into account, no one has been dominant against each other. With an all-important La Liga fixture between Barcelona and Atletico Madrid this weekend, we take a look at five previous meetings in all competitions between the two Spanish giants.
1. Atletico Madrid 1-0 Barcelona (La Liga)
Date - 22nd November 2020
Venue - Wanda Metropolitano
Atletico Madrid hosted a struggling Barcelona side at Wanda Metropolitano. Barcelona were eighth in the league table, having won just one of their previous five games. A win would lift Atletico to th second place in the league table. It was a boring first half as both teams struggled to create chances. However, a poor error from Ter Stegen late in the first half, led to Atletico Madrid taking the lead. One goal was enough for Simeone's side to grab all three points.
2. Barcelona 2-2 Atletico Madrid (La Liga)
Date - 1st July 2020
Venue - Camp Nou
A struggling Barcelona faced Atletico Madrid in a bid to put pressure on Real Madrid for the title chase. Barcelona took an early lead through Diego Costa's own goal in the 11th minute. Saul's penalty leveled the score for Atletico. Barcelona started the second half brightly and took the lead through Messi's panenka penalty in the 51st min. Saul equalised from the spot again. Th game ended 2-2 as Barcelona failed reclaim the top spot.
3. Barcelona 2-3 Atletico Madrid (Spanish Super Cup)
Date - 10th January 2020
Venue - King Abdullah Sports City, Jeddah
Barcelona faced Atletico Madrid in the semifinals of the Spanish Super Cup. The winner of th semifinal was set to play Real Madrid in the final. Both teams had a fair share of chances to score in the first half but couldn't manage to take the lead. Just a minute after the second half kickoff, Koke fired past Neto to open the scoring. However, their celebrations were cut short as Messi equalised for Barcelona, 5 mins later. Just 10 mins later, Griezmann's header helped Barcelona take the lead. Atletico got a penalty in the 80th min and Morata equalised from the spot. Correa scores the winner in the 86th min to help Atletico reach the final of the Spanish Super Cup.
4. Atletico Madrid 0-1 Barcelona (La Liga)
Date - 2nd December 2019
Venue - Wanda Metropolitano
Sixth placed Atletico Madrid hosted Barcelona at Wanda Metropolitano in order to boost their chances of qualifying for the Champions League. Los Rojiblancos were 10 games unbeaten before this game and Barcelona were on a four-game winning run. A win would help Atletico level on points with Barcelona. Atletico started the game strongly with 4 big chances in the first half forcing Ter Stegen to make some spectacular saves. Messi scored in the 86th min to grab all three points for the Blaugranas.
5. 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.
