Barcelona vs Atletico Madrid Preview
- Competition: La Liga.
- Date: Saturday, December 21.
- Time: 8:00 PM GMT.
- Venue: Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys.
Barcelona vs Atletico Madrid will take place in the late kick-off slot in La Liga at the Lluis Companys Stadium as the league leaders gear up to host the team in second place.
Barca will enter this contest on the back of a mixed run of form. They have won two of their last five matches across competitions, securing one draw and falling to two defeats in the other two matches. During this run, they have scored an impressive 12 goals but also conceded eight as they need to find some solidity at the back to continue their title charge. They faced a stumbling block in their 1-0 defeat to Leganes last time out and will look to get back on track.
Atleti, on the other hand, will enter this game on the back of an excellent run of form. They have won each of their last 11 games across competitions as they continue to go from strength to strength in an incredible start to the season. Their last five games have seen them score 16 goals, while conceding just five, keeping two clean sheets in the process. Having secured a comfortable 1-0 win against Getafe last time, they will look to carry their streak forward.
On that note, let’s take a look at the team news from both camps.
Barcelona vs Atletico Madrid Team News
Barcelona Team News
Manager Hansi Flick fielded a strong lineup in his team’s last game, but unfortunately, they fell to a defeat. There were no new injuries or suspensions to report from that match, but the team will be without four players for the next one. Ansu Fati, Andreas Christensen, Marc-Andre ter Stegen and Marc Benal will all be sidelined for the foreseeable future.
Atletico Madrid Team News
Manager Diego Simeone went with a strong lineup in his team’s last match, guiding them to a 1-0 win at home. There were no new injuries to report from that match as most players played at a high level and managed the game very well. Overall, they are in a great position to have a memorable season, with no injuries at the club currently.
Predicted Lineups
Barcelona (4-2-3-1)
Goalkeeper: Inaki Pena.
Defenders: Jules Kounde, Eric Garcia, Inigo Martinez, Alejandro Balde.
Midfielders: Marc Casado, Pedri, Dani Olmo.
Forwards: Lamine Yamal, Raphinha (C), Robert Lewandowski.
Atletico Madrid (4-4-2)
Goalkeeper: Jan Oblak.
Defenders: Marco Llorente, Jose Maria Gimenez, Clement Lenglet, Javi Galan.
Midfielders: Giuliano Simeone, Rodrigo de Paul, Pablo Barrios, Samuel Lino.
Forwards: Antoine Griezmann, Julian Alvarez.
Barcelona vs Atletico Madrid Head-to-Head Record
These two sides have faced each other with great regularity in recent times, with each match being a spectacle as the teams are among the top sides in Spain. However, just one team has total bragging rights in terms of the head-to-head. Barcelona have won each of their last five meetings with Atletico Madrid.
| Date | Match | Competition |
| 18/03/24 | Atleti 0-3 Barca | La Liga |
| 04/12/23 | Barca 1-0 Atleti | La Liga |
| 23/04/23 | Barca 1-0 Atleti | La Liga |
| 09/01/23 | Atleti 0-1 Barca | La Liga |
| 06/02/22 | Barca 4-2 Atleti | La Liga |
Key Players to Watch
Robert Lewandowski (Barcelona)
The Polish striker has been the leading contributor for Barcelona in La Liga so far this season. He has been supported well by Raphinha (17GA) and Lamine Yamal (14GA) as well, but leads the way with 17, which is basically 16 goals and an assist. He will look to carry that form forward and into their next match.
Antoine Griezmann (Atletico Madrid)
The Frenchman has been in great form for Atleti since the start of the current 2024/25 season. He has contributed 11 goals for his team’s cause, which makes him the highest contributor in the squad. With seven goals and four assists so far, Griezmann will look to continue producing the goods for his team in the same manner.
Barcelona vs Atletico Madrid Prediction
Recent head-to-head suggests that there is only one winner between these two. However, Atletico Madrid’s recent form has been exceptional, and as a result, they should be in for a fair shot to earn something from this game.
Prediction: Barcelona 2-2 Atletico Madric.
Where to watch Barcelona vs Atletico live?
| Country | Where to Watch |
| USA | ESPN+ |
| UK | Premier Sports |
| India | GXR |
| Spain | DAZN. |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q. When is Barcelona vs Atletico Madrid?
A. Barcelona will host Atletico Madrid on Saturday, December 21 at 8:00 PM GMT.
Q. Where can you watch Barcelona vs Atletico Madrid for free?
A. Fubo, Hulu + Live TV and DirecTV Stream will stream the match for free.
Q. What is the predicted score for Barcelona vs Atletico Madrid?
A. Barcelona 2-2 Atletico Madrid.
Q. What is the recent head-to-head record for Barcelona vs Atletico Madrid?
A. Barcelona have won each of their last five meetings against Atletico Madrid.