Is Lionel Messi exhausted and other talking points as Barcelona play away to Atletico Madrid

Andy West 20:34 13/10/2017
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  • Barcelona will look to maintain their 100 per cent win record in La Liga this season, as they travel to Atletico Madrid at the weekend.

    Here we take a look at the talking points ahead of the high-voltage clash.

    IS MESSI EXHAUSTED?

    After playing a do or die World Cup qualifier two miles above sea level, scoring a brilliant hat-trick to rescue his flailing nation, and then embarking upon a 9,000-kilometre flight, it would be fair to assume that Lionel Messi is both mentally and physically shattered ahead of tonight’s game.

    Fortunately for Barca, Messi is a law unto himself and the league leaders will be confident that their talisman will once again defy logic and somehow find sufficient energy to produce another match-winning masterclass in the Spanish capital against an Atletico team he has historically fared well against.

    It’s also worth noting that Messi is far from alone in having competed in gruelling qualifiers in South America earlier this week: fellow Barca men Javier Mascherano, Luis Suarez and Paulinho plus Atletico defensive duo Diego Godin and Jose Maria Gimenez have also undertaken transatlantic flights in the last couple of days, and the recovery rates of all concerned could be a key factor in deciding the outcome.

    Ready for club football after famous hat-trick: Messi.

    HAVE ATLETICO PREPARED A DODGY PITCH?

    One of the most commonly used tactics to thwart Barcelona employed by opposition teams in recent years is forcing them to play upon a dry, bumpy pitch with long grass.

    The slick and smooth surface of the Camp Nou is ideally suited to Barca’s short passing game, and legendary midfield maestro Xavi was always particularly frustrated when pitches at away venues were prepared less to his liking.

    The most recent team to try this approach were Getafe a few weeks ago, and it nearly paid off as Barca struggled to find their rhythm and were heading for their first dropped points of the season until Paulinho popped up with a late winner.

    In the build-up to this weekend’s game, Atletico have already faced accusations that the pitch at their new Wanda Metropolitano stadium will suit their attritional style far more than Barca’s possession play.

    And although home team boss Diego Simeone responded to those accusations by joking: “I’m not a gardener,” he surely wouldn’t be too disappointed if the playing surface hinders the visitors from hitting their stride.

    What will the surface be like at the Wanda Metropolitano?

    ANOTHER CLEAN SHEET FOR TER STEGEN?

    Although it will be chiefly remembered for the oddity of being played in front of an empty stadium, Barca’s last outing before the international break – a 3-0 win over Las Palmas – was also notable for featuring yet another clean sheet for Marc-Andre ter Stegen.

    The German keeper has now conceded just twice in nine games since the Spanish Super Cup loss to Real Madrid in August, with Barca’s newly-found defensive solidity providing perhaps the biggest difference between their play under former boss Luis Enrique and new coach Ernesto Valverde.

    The disjointed nature of Barca’s play last year meant they were always vulnerable to conceding, but Valverde has already succeeded in instilling a more coherent team shape with the three lines of defence, midfield and attack playing closer together and therefore providing more protection to ter Stegen.

    Conversely, Atletico have often struggled for goals – nothing particularly new there – with the goalless draw against Leganes just before the international break clearly illustrating their attacking limitations. All things considered, we probably shouldn’t expect a goal-fest this weekend.

    Marc Andre Ter Stegen

    Rock in goal: Ter Stegen.

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