English
Español
Barcelona face a gargantuan task this week as they look to overturn a four-goal deficit against Atletico Madrid in the Copa del Rey semi-finals.
Diego Simeone’s side demolished Barça in the first leg at the Metropolitano to put themselves in a tremendous position to reach this year’s final, where either Real Sociedad or Athletic Club will be waiting them.
Barcelona vs Atletico Madrid – Match preview and team news
- Date: Tuesday, 3rd March
- Kick-off: 8pm BST
- Venue: Camp Nou
- Last meeting: Atletico Madrid 4-0 Barcelona, Copa del Rey, 12th February
Barcelona team news
Barcelona are without senior striker Robert Lewandowski after the club confirmed he suffered “a fracture of the left eye socket” in the weekend win over Villarreal, ruling him out of the Atletico clash.
Barcelona are also without centre-back Eric Garcia, who is suspended after being sent off in the first leg of the tie in Madrid.
Frenkie de Jong remains sidelined with a leg injury, Andreas Christensen is still recovering from a cruciate ligament injury, and Gavi, although back in training, is not expected to be risked for this game.
In Lewandowski’s absence, Ferran Torres is widely expected to start as the center forward.
Atletico Madrid team news
Atletico travel to Catalonia in a strong position but with a couple of important midfield absentees of their own.
Johnny Cardoso is out after suffering a hamstring injury in the recent La Liga win over Real Oviedo, while Pablo Barrios remains sidelined with a thigh problem that has already kept him out of several games.
Despite those setbacks, Simeone can still call upon a full-strength attacking unit, with Julian Alvarez and Alexander Sorloth expected to continue as the front two after both featured prominently in the first-leg rout.
Ademola Lookman, Koke and Marcos Llorente are all likely starters in midfield and wide areas.
Simeone is expected to trust the back four that has served him well in recent weeks, with Matteo Ruggeri, David Hancko, Marc Pubill and Nahuel Molina again forming the defensive line in front of goalkeeper Juan Musso.
Form
Barcelona: WLLWW
Hansi Flick’s side come into this tie on top of LaLiga and fresh from a 4-1 home win over Villarreal, in which Yamal scored his first senior hat-trick to underline the attacking potential that Barcelona will need to tap into again. However, the 4-0 first-leg defeat to Atletico was their heaviest domestic loss of the season.
Atletico Madrid: LDWWW
Simeone’s men followed up their first-leg demolition of Barcelona with a gritty 1-0 victory over Real Oviedo at the weekend in their last outing, Julian Alvarez scoring late to keep them well positioned in the LaLiga top four. Their Copa del Rey form has been flawless so far this season, with four straight wins en route to building that commanding 4-0 aggregate lead.
Predicted lineups
Barcelona: Joan Garcia; Kounde, Cubarsi, Martin, Balde; Pedri, Olmo; Yamal, Lopez, Raphinha; Torres.
Atletico Madrid: Musso; Ruggeri, Hancko, Pubill, Molina; Simeone, Koke, Llorente, Lookman; Alvarez, Sorloth.
How to watch Barcelona vs Atletico Madrid?
UK viewers can watch Barcelona vs Atletico Madrid live on Premier Sports.
Read – Chelsea boss Rosenior urges review on set-piece defending
See Also – Golazo Merchants: Arsenal’s non-flying Dutchman, Dennis Bergkamp