David Jones from La Liga On-line previews the massive sport developing this weekend as Atletico Madrid host Barcelona in La Liga on Saturday evening.
Barcelona appear to be regressing whereas Atletico Madrid are going from energy to energy. As issues stand, Atletico are third within the La Liga desk with 17 factors from seven matches, whereas Barcelona have picked up simply 11 factors from seven video games.
The Rojiblancos are three factors behind leaders Actual Sociedad, who’ve performed 9 matches. True, Atletico should not having the very best of instances within the Champions League, however in La Liga, Diego Simeone’s aspect are doing extraordinarily effectively. The Madrid outfit have scored 17 targets in seven league matches and have the league’s finest defence, having conceded simply twice. Of their final sport earlier than the two-week worldwide break, Atletico hammered Cadiz 4-0 at dwelling within the league. Luiz Suarez, so unceremoniously let go by Barcelona in the summertime of 2020, scored as soon as in that match, taking his tally to 5 targets in six appearances in La Liga for Atletico this season.
Joao Felix is having an exquisite season. The 21-year-old ahead has scored 5 targets and supplied two assists in seven league matches and has discovered the again of the web twice in three Champions League video games, based on WhoScored. The Portugal worldwide is among the finest and most promising younger abilities on this planet, and he has come into his personal and is a pleasure to look at. Barcelona nonetheless have (arguably?) the world’s best ever footballer in Lionel Messi, however there’s a lot the Argentine wizard can do on his personal.
The 33-year-old has nonetheless scored three targets within the league and has scored three targets and supplied three assists within the Champions League. Whereas it’s clear that Messi is lacking his good friend and companion in crime in assault Suarez, Ansu Fati does appear to have solid a robust partnership with Messi. The 18-year-old winger has scored 4 targets within the league, however he’ll now miss the subsequent 5 months with a ruptured inside meniscus in his left knee.
This might open the door for Ousmane Dembele. Atletico will head into the match towards Barcelona on the Wanda Metropolitano on Saturday night as favourites. Though Simeone’s aspect are banging within the targets for enjoyable in the mean time, the house group could determine to play conservatively towards the Messi-lead group and will plan to grind out a win. For Barcelona to select up all three factors in Madrid, they want Messi at his finest.
