In the 18th round of the Spanish La Liga, Barcelona will host Atlético Madrid at home on December 21, 2024, at 21:00 at the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys stadium. Both teams are at the top of the table with 38 points, so this match could be crucial for the championship title.
The importance of the match
The game is not just about getting three points, but also about securing a psychological advantage for the Christmas period. The winning team will spend the holidays at the top of the table, which is a serious motivation for both sides. Real Madrid are following them closely, so a draw or defeat could have serious consequences in the championship race.
Form and history
Barcelona:
The Catalans have been in a mixed bag of form recently. In their last match, they suffered a surprise 1-0 defeat at home to Leganés, despite having 80% of possession and several shots on target. In their last ten league matches, they have won five, drawn two and lost three, while scoring an average of 2.5 goals and conceding 1.1 goals per match. Robert Lewandowski leads the home goalscoring charts with nine goals, while Raphinha has contributed six goals and four assists.
Atletico Madrid:
Diego Simeone's side are in excellent form, having won six in a row, most recently a 1-0 win over Getafe thanks to a 69th-minute goal from Alexander Sørloth. They have won seven, drawn two and lost one of their last ten league games, scoring an average of two goals and conceding just 0.8 per game. Sørloth leads the team's scoring charts with six goals, while Antoine Griezmann has helped the team with five goals and several key assists.
Missing players and expected starting lineups
Barcelona:
The home team is missing several key players. Lamine Yamal is unavailable due to an ankle injury, and head coach Hansi Flick is also serving a suspension, so he cannot sit on the bench. Also missing are Andreas Christensen, Ansu Fati, Marc Bernal and Marc-André ter Stegen. The expected starting lineup could be as follows:
Inaki Pena - Jules Kounde, Pau Cubarsi, Inigo Martinez, Alejandro Balde - Dani Olmo, Marc Casado, Pedri - Raphinha, Robert Lewandowski, Ferran Torres
Atletico Madrid:
Atlético Madrid have no major injuries or suspensions, so Simeone can field his strongest team. The expected starting eleven is:
Jan Oblak - Marcos Llorente, Jose Gimenez, Clement Lenglet, Javi Galan - Giuliano Simeone, Rodrigo De Paul, Pablo Barrios, Conor Gallagher - Antoine Griezmann, Julian Alvarez
Tactical analysis
Barcelona:
The home team is expected to play their usual attacking style, trying to dominate possession and break through the Atlético defence through the wings. Ferran Torres' presence could be particularly important, as he can create a threat on both the wings and in the middle. In midfield, Pedri's creativity and Dani Olmo's work ethic will be key in building up the attacks.
Atletico Madrid:
Simeone's team is known for its disciplined defense and fast counterattacks. They are expected to defend deep and try to capitalize on Barcelona's mistakes to lead counterattacks. The speed and positioning of Antoine Griezmann and Julian Alvarez could pose a serious threat to Barcelona's defense. In midfield, Rodrigo De Paul and Pablo Barrios will be responsible for winning the ball and launching attacks quickly.
Tipmix tips
Considering the current form of the teams and the stakes of the match, it is worth considering the following betting option:
Double chance (X2): Due to Atlético Madrid's good form and Barcelona's absences, it is likely that the guests will score at least one point. The Tippmix odds for this with handicap betting are 1.86 at the Hungarian bookmaker.
Tip mix: 60074 V | Barcelona - Atl. Madrid | Atl. Madrid (Handicap 0:1) 1.86
Match prediction
Considering the current form and the missing players, a close match is expected, where a draw or a minimal Atlético victory could very well be in the cards.
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