Barcelona Faces Atlético Madrid in High-Stakes LaLiga Showdown on Sunday

Madrid, Spain — The Atlético Madrid football club will host FC Barcelona at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano Stadium on Sunday, March 16, at 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time. This match is significant as it represents the 28th round of LaLiga EA Sports.

Barcelona enters the match with renewed confidence after eliminating Benfica from the UEFA Champions League, advancing to the quarterfinals. The club is currently leading LaLiga with 57 points. In stark contrast, Atlético Madrid’s recent campaign in the Champions League ended in controversy as they lost to Real Madrid in the knockout stages, falling victim to a penalty shootout. This defeat led to questioning decisions during the match, notably the validation of a goal that was later disallowed. Currently, Atlético ranks third in LaLiga with 56 points.

Betting odds favor Barcelona, predicting a close match ending with a scoreline of 2-1 in their favor. Coach Diego Pablo Simeone, aiming to build on previous performances, will look to maintain team momentum despite facing player absences due to injuries and suspensions. “We need our best players in shape to handle the tough challenge ahead,” Simeone stated.

Simeone anticipates that his squad will be nearly complete for the match, aside from any last-minute injuries. He may field a lineup similar to the one used in the prior matches against Barcelona, which yielded a 1-2 win in LaLiga and a thrilling 4-4 draw in the Copa del Rey. Jan Oblak is expected to start in goal, supported by a defensive line comprising of Lenglet and Giménez, with Javi Galán and other substitutes ready according to the match dynamics.

In the midfield, Simeone might choose a combination of Pablo Barrios and Rodrigo de Paul, with forwards including Griezmann and Julián Álvarez leading the attack. Notably absent will be Ángel Correa, who faces a suspension due to a red card received in a previous match.

On the other side, Barcelona coach Hansi Flick hopes to solidify their top position in LaLiga. Despite injuries to key players like Marc-André ter Stegen and Christensen, Flick has a full squad available to tackle this critical clash.

Barcelona’s likely starting lineup could feature Szczęsny in goal, with Koundé and Balde on the fullback positions, and Cubarsí and Iñigo Martínez in central defense. The midfield will possibly include De Jong, Pedri, and Olmo, while the front three may consist of Lewandowski, Raphinha, and Lamine. As they prepare for the international break, adding three points to their tally by winning this match would significantly bolster their chances for the LaLiga title.

Both teams are aware of the stakes: while Barcelona seeks to expand its advantage in the standings, Atlético aims to turn around their fortunes following a disappointing exit from European competition. “We have to rise to the occasion and prove ourselves,” said Atlético player Rodrigo de Paul.

The match will be broadcast live on DAZN, with additional coverage available through MARCADOR on Radio MARCA and minute-by-minute updates on MARCA.com.