Barcelona will be attempting to keep their slim title hopes alive when they travel to face Atletico Madrid in La Liga on Sunday evening.
Xavi’s men will no doubt have a spring in their step after their midweek exploits against Napoli saw them surge into the Champions League quarter-finals for the first time since 2019/20.
However, that buoyancy may have been overshadowed by how Atletico may be feeling after they produced a stunning comeback to recover from going two goals down in their tie to knock out last season’s runners-up Inter Milan via a penalty shoot-out.
With Atletico, they have tended to veer from the shocking to sublime this term, and the win over Internazionale came in the wake of a dismal 2-0 defeat away to Cadiz, a team that hadn’t tasted victory in Spain’s top flight since September.
The gap between the two teams stands at six points, but with Xavi departing the Camp Nou at the end of the season, he won’t want to give up on the title without a fight. That said, they face a tall order trying to reel in Real Madrid who have been virtually impeccable.
But how will things unfold at the Wanda Metropolitano? I have delved into the betting markets and selected a couple of tips for you to mull over ahead of kick-off.
Atletico to keep Barcelona at bay
While it has been a largely up-and-down campaign for Atletico, one thing has remained a constant.
Yes, Atletico are simply a different beast at home and their record is irrepressible with their win over Inter ensuring Diego Simeone’s men have won 28 of their past 30 matches at the Wanda Metropolitano (D1 L1).
When you assess just La Liga, they’ve won 22 of their 23 last games on their own patch, and they have gone over a year without succumbing to defeat.
Indeed, Barca were the last team to walk away with a win in the corresponding fixture last term, courtesy of a 1-0 victory.
Although the Catalan giants are in the midst of an eight-game unbeaten run in La Liga, they aren’t as dependable as they once were, conceding 20 goals in their last 13 league games going into this one.
Yes, Barca may have won each of the past four meetings with Atletico, but it takes a special team to overcome Atletico these days in the cauldron of the Wanda Metropolitano.
For my first pick, I’m gravitating towards Atletico to win & BTTS which is paying out at an attractive price of 3/1 with Paddy Power.
Antoine Griezmann to fire on all cylinders
Although he may be a late call-up after coming through the pain barrier to face Inter Milan, Antoine Griezmann is Atletico’s talisman, and he can be the difference maker.
With 11 La Liga goals to his name, Griezmann would relish the chance to scupper Barca’s fleeting title hopes once and for all.
Should he be passed fit, he could spell danger for Barca, and I have a feeling he could be among the goals.
Well, I’ve been a bit bolder here and gone for the Frenchman to net a double, which is available at an eye-catching 12/1 with bet365.
Bet £10, Get £50 in Bonuses
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