Barcelona host Atletico Madrid on Saturday in a battle between La Liga’s high two with Hansi Flick and Diego Simeone’s groups stage on 38 factors for now. The massive distinction is that Barca have performed one recreation extra so this recreation takes on added significance for the Catalans on dwelling soil. With outcomes having suffered in current weeks, this assembly comes at a important juncture and is arguably a must-win conflict now for the Blaugrana. Even when Barca do triumph, although, there may be nonetheless the matter of Actual Madrid who’re one level again of each side and may gain advantage considerably from a attract Catalonia.

We have a look at a couple of principal options forward of this one.

Barca outscoring Atleti

With this pitting Spain’s high two collectively, each side rank pretty excessive within the respective key metrics comparable to targets scored. Not solely is that this a high of the desk assembly, it is usually two of the three highest scorers in La Liga going face to face with Barca boasting 50 targets thus far and Atleti 19 fewer on 31, which continues to be comparatively prolific within the Spanish topflight this marketing campaign. Robert Lewandowski leads the way in which on 16 targets scored thus far this time period whereas Atleti’s Antoine Griezmann and Alexander Sorloth have solely scored lower than half individually and never at the same time as many with their mixed whole standing at 14.

Can Barca break Atleti down?

Whereas Barca are clearly essentially the most prolific of those two rivals, there isn’t any doubt that Atleti win the battle between the 2 defenses, which might maybe tilt this conflict of their favor. Simeone’s males have conceded 9 fewer targets than Flick’s and have loved an upturn in UEFA Champions League kind too, which means that they’re shedding their problematic street kind since beating Paris Saint-Germain. Massive wins away at Sparta Praha and Actual Valladolid have been significantly spectacular however no fewer than 4 clear sheets from their final eight throughout all competitions means that this one could possibly be significantly tough for the house aspect.

The right way to watch

• Date: Saturday, December 21 | Time: 3 p.m. ET
• Location: Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys – Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
• Watch: ESPN Deportes | Stream: Fubo (attempt without cost)

Each cautious of Actual

The opposite undoubted think about all of this will probably be that each Barca and Atleti know that any slip up might let Actual transfer into high spot so a draw fits neither aspect right here. One level could possibly be sufficient to maintain Los Blancos in examine in the event that they tie their recreation in hand, however a transparent winner right here has the benefit as Actual play catch up so count on each side to essentially need all three factors right here. Atleti are up in opposition to Carlo Ancelotti’s aspect earlier than Barca so this arguably make this a possibility to grab a point of management over the title race.

No Yamal, no celebration

With Barca’s star man at present injured, the Catalans look rather less formidable going ahead and definitely struggled in opposition to Leganes lately. House video games away from Camp Nou appear to unnerve Flick’s troops with Leganes and Las Palmas each successful in Catalonia of late so maybe a seed of doubt has been sown which has coincided with shedding star man Yamal for a couple of weeks. Not solely might this show problematic in La Liga, it might additionally gradual them down in the beginning of 2025 though the Champions League is sorted for not less than a knockout berth with the highest eight nonetheless very potential.