Barcelona take on Atletico Madrid in La Liga on Sunday.
Ahead of the game, here’s a look at the match facts, key players and likely line-ups.
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MATCH FACTS
1) Since making his second bow for Atletico Madrid on January 3, Los Rojiblancos have won 80% of their games with Diego Costa this season in all competitions (8/10), compared to 53.3% without him (16/30). The Spaniard has also scored five times in those matches.
2) Lionel Messi is closing in on 600 career goals for Barcelona and Argentina. Sunday’s outing against Atletico presents the 30-year-old with an opportunity to achieve this remarkable feat in just his 747th game.
3) Fresh from netting four goals against Leganes on Thursday, Antoine Griezmann will be one of the many star names on show at the Camp Nou. The Frenchman has now scored in eight of his last ten shots on goal in all competitions.
4) Barcelona have not lost any of their last 15 matches against Atletico Madrid in La Liga (11 wins and four wins), their best unbeaten run against them in the competition. But Atletico will present a tougher challenge on this occasion as they have lost just once in their last 24 La Liga away game.
5) With a five point lead at the top of La Liga, Barcelona have only ever lost one domestic title with the same point difference over second place with 12 matches left to be played. The last time was in 2007 against a Real Madrid side managed by Fabio Capello.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
LIONEL MESSI VS ANTOINE GRIEZMANN
MESSI
GAMES – 26
GOALS – 23
ASSISTS – 12
What to say about the maestro? His composure in front of goal is simply instrumental. The Argentine has been at the centre of Barcelona’s exploits over the past decade and can be the tipping point between winning and losing. His pace, touch, skill, intelligence and goal return makes him one of the all time greats – with 23 La Liga goals in 26 matches this season. Messi will start from the right of the attack bidding to score his 600th career goal against an Atletico Madrid side in sparkling form of late.
GRIEZMANN
GAMES – 23
GOALS – 15
ASSISTS – 7
A massive game for the Frenchman who has been the centre of interest from Barcelona since the end of the summer transfer window. Back-to-back hat-tricks has elevated Griezmann’s status as one of La Liga’s marquee attackers and he now has the chance to further showcase his talents at the Camp Nou. The 25-year-old has plenty of class around him in Gabi, Koke and Saul Niguez – and a re-vitalised Diego Costa – to help unlock the Barcelona defence as the visitors look to cut the gap to two points at the top of the table.
TEAM NEWS
BARCELONA
With Nelson Semedo injured, Sergi Roberto will start at right-back with Jordi Alba back from suspension to replace Lucas Digne on the left. Gerard Pique, who was rested on Thursday, will return alongside Samuel Umtiti in central defence. Philippe Coutinho and Ousmane Dembele are set to start alongside Sergio Busquets and Ivan Rakitic.
ATLETICO MADIRD
Diego Simeone only has Lucas Hernandez and Stefan Savic unavailable to his side, so expect Atletico to line out similarly to Thursday’s 4-0 win over Leganes. With Altetico Madrid down to 19 first team players following the mid-season departures of Miguel Angel Moya, Yannick Carrasco and Nico Gaitan, Simeone will be looking to Antoine Griezmann and Diego Costa to inspire his side to victory.
LIKELY LINE-UPS
BARCELONA
ATLETICO MADRID
