Atletico Madrid vs Barcelona LIVE: La Liga updates, latest team news, lineups, TV, prediction

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Atletico Madrid vs Barcelona LIVE

Two title rivals face off tonight at the Wanda Metropolitano as third hosts second in La Liga, in a game which has not ended in a stalemate in the league in almost four years. Goals should be guaranteed tonight and Real Madrid, who won at Villarreal last night to move three points clear at the top, will be watching on.

Atleti will be licking their wounds after an agonising Champions League exit on penalties to their cross-city rivals, but cannot afford to dwell on the defeat as they look to leapfrog Barca in that Liga table. Hansi Flick’s side, meanwhile, are still on the hunt for a treble this season.

The hosts will be without the suspended Angel Correa, while both Koke and Rodrigo De Paul will be assessed with late fitness tests. Dani Olmo is pushing to start ahead of Gavi for Barca with Flick set to make a number of big calls for this clash. Follow the game LIVE below with our dedicated match blog.

Atletico Madrid vs Barcelona latest news

Kick-off time: 8pm GMT, Metropolitano
How to watch: Premier Sports & ITV4
Atletico XI: Gallagher benched
Barcelona XI: Olmo starts
Score prediction

Changes in the middle

19:09 , Alex Young

So, there is no Gallagher for Atletico as De Paul is passed fit to start. Elsewhere, Le Normand starts in defence alongside Lenglet, who is on loan from Barcelona.

Barca also make a change in midfield as Casado starts in place of De Jong. Otherwise it is a case of as you were.

19:01 , Alex Young

The players are out warming up.

Barcelona team news in full

18:54 , Alex Young

Barcelona XI: Szczesny, Kounde, Cubarsi, Martinez, Balde, Pedri, Olmo, Casado, Lamine Yamal, Lewandowski, Raphinha

Subs: Araujo, Gavi, Ferran, Inaki Pena, Pablo Torre, Fermin, Pau Victor, De Jong, Eric, Kochen, Fort, Gerard Martin

Barcelona XI

18:52 , Alex Young

The visitors!

Atletico team news in full

18:51 , Alex Young

Atletico XI: Oblak, M.Llorente, Lenglet, Reinildo, Le Normand, R.De Paul, Barrios, S.Lino, Giuliano, Griezmann, J.Alvarez

Subs: J.Musso, A.Gomis, J.M.Gimenez, Azpilicueta, Molina, Witsel, Javi Galan, Gallagher, Lemar, Riquelme, Sorloth

Atletico XI

18:47 , Alex Young

…or not!

18:42 , Alex Young

Looks like Conor is starting.

Score prediction

18:25 , Alex Young

A really intriguing one, this.

How to Atletico react to a truly painful Champions League exit, and can Barcelona take advantage of any residual distractions?

You would imagine Diego Simeone will have drilled into his players the importance of shaking the midweek result off, just as he said to reporters. His charges will surely heed that warning.

Barcelona have not had it all their own way – far from it – against Atleti this season and I expect more of the same tonight. I’m going for a rare draw, and plenty of goals.

2-2 draw

Barcelona team news

18:15 , Alex Young

Barcelona have Andreas Christensen available again but the chance of him making the pitch is small given his fitness issues this season.

Dani Olmo is pushing to start agaisnt of Gavi, while Frenkie de Jong could also come in.

Early Atletico team news

18:04 , Alex Young

Atletico will be without Angel Correa, who is suspended following a red card against Getafe in their last league game.

Koke and Rodrigo De Paul will be given late fitness tests, but Conor Gallagher is expected to keep his place in midfield.

Flick hoping for third time lucky

17:58 , Alex Young

Barcelona must learn their lessons from the last two games against Atletico Madrid if they are to beat them for the first time this season, manager Hansi Flick said.

Flick’s side lost 2-1 at home to Atletico and were held to a 4-4 draw in their Copa del Rey semi-final first leg, with Atletico’s Alexander Sorloth scoring a stoppage-time winner in the first game and a 90th-minute equaliser in the second.

“I think we played two great matches. We have to be focused from the beginning of the match to the end of the match,” Flick told reporters.

“In the first match we weren’t as focused as we can be at the end of the match. In the second match, we weren’t focused at the beginning and the end.

“We have to take care of that. If you make mistakes against Atletico, they can hurt you. This is what we have to defend.”

Asked if the game could decide the title race, Flick said: “It’s a long way to go in the league, it’s one match. If we win it will be very good for our confidence and give us more belief.

“I always say LaLiga clubs know how to play football, it’s not easy to win against such teams.”

Simeone demands focus after Champions League exit

17:48 , Alex Young

Diego Simeone has urged Atletico Madrid tb to move on from their Champions League exit ahead of tonight’s La Liga home match against Barcelona.

Simeone had spoken out about Atletico’s exit on Wednesday, when VAR ruled Julian Alvarez’s slip caused a double touch to rule out an Atletico goal in the penalty shootout against Real.

“I’m not going to comment further on the previous match. We have to focus on the upcoming clash,” the 54-year-old Argentine added.

“We have a great opportunity against a team that plays very well. We’re focused on ourselves and on showing the fans that we can keep competing.”

The match against Barcelona could be a defining moment in Simeone’s season. Barcelona are second in the standings with 57 points, one ahead of Atletico, who have played a game more.

“It’s always important to maintain the right distance in the standings as the season progresses. For our chances, this match is about winning and closing the gap. If they win, they move closer to the title,” Simeone said.

“Everything about them (Barcelona) concerns us. They are a very complete team, a brilliant side, and they’ve managed this past week well.”

How to watch Atletico Madrid vs Barcelona

17:35 , Alex Young

TV channel: The game will be broadcast on free-to-air coverage ITV 4. Coverage starts at 7.30pm GMT ahead of an 8pm kick-off time.

Premier Sports and LALIGATV will also show the game.

Live stream: ITVX – which is free with an email subscription – will provide a live stream. Premier Sports subscribers will be able to watch on the Premier Sports App.