Level on points (38) at the top of the La Liga table, Barcelona and Atletico Madrid will lock horns in a huge game on Saturday evening, with any potential winner guaranteeing themselves first position in the division heading into 2025.
Barcelona are at the summit due to their superior goal difference, but Atletico, who have a game in hand on the division leaders, are the form team entering this contest, with Diego Simeone's side on an incredible 11-game winning run in all competitions.
Match preview
Raphinha of Barcelona during his side's match against Borussia Dortmund, on December 11, 2024© Imago
Barcelona boast a record of 12 wins, two draws and four defeats from their 18 La Liga matches this season, with 38 points enough to top the table on goal difference, but they have played a game more than both second-placed Atletico and third-placed Real Madrid, with the latter only one point behind ahead of the next set of fixtures in Spain's top flight.
The Catalan outfit's form earlier this season suggested that they could run away with the title this term, but they have only won one of their last six matches in the league, suffering three defeats in the process.
Hansi Flick's side were stunned by Leganes last time out, suffering a 1-0 home defeat, and they have now lost their last two matches at their temporary home against Las Palmas and Leganes.
Barcelona are in an excellent position in the Champions League table, sitting second, three points behind leaders Liverpool, so it has been a very successful first half of the campaign, but another defeat on Saturday would be a huge setback and may see them end 2024 in third spot, which would be a disappointment considering what has occurred this term.
Not since February 2006 have Atletico managed to win an away league game against Barcelona, who are on a five-game winning run over the White and Reds, including a 1-0 success in the corresponding match last term.
Atletico Madrid's Antoine Griezmann and Rodrigo De Paul on September 29, 2024© Imago
Atletico have not scored a league goal against Barcelona since February 2022, while their last top-flight win over Saturday's opponents was in October 2021, so it has been a struggle for the capital giants in this fixture of late.
Simeone's side will enter the match in excellent form, though, having won each of their last 11 matches in all competitions, including their last six in the league against Las Palmas, Mallorca, Alaves, Real Valladolid, Sevilla and Getafe.
Alexander Sorloth came off the bench to hit the winner against Getafe last time out, with the result moving Atletico into second spot in the table, level on points with Barcelona, crucially with a game in hand.
Atletico have again been excellent defensively this season, only conceding 11 times, which is the joint-best record alongside Real Sociedad, while Antoine Griezmann, Sorloth and Julian Alvarez have 19 league goals between them in 2024-25.
Rojiblancos won the last of their 11 La Liga titles in 2020-21, but they certainly deserve to be mentioned as challengers at this stage of the campaign, and another victory on Saturday would send out a message.
Barcelona La Liga form:
Barcelona form (all competitions):
Atletico Madrid La Liga form:
Atletico Madrid form (all competitions):
Team News
Barcelona's Lamine Yamal on December 15, 2024© Imago
Barcelona will be without the services of Lamine Yamal due to an ankle problem, with the 17-year-old, who has again been in excellent form this season, set to be sidelined until the early stages of 2025.
Andreas Christensen and Ansu Fati both have outside chances of returning to the squad, but Marc Bernal and Marc-Andre ter Stegen are long-term absentees for the Catalan giants.
Ronald Araujo is back to fitness after a lengthy absence with a hamstring problem, which required an operation, but he is expected to again be named among the substitutes for the first whistle on Saturday night.
Fermin Lopez could be the player to benefit from Yamal's absence, with Dani Olmo moving into a wide area, while there will be a return in the middle of the defence for Pau Cubarsi; Frenkie de Jong and Gavi, though, are set to continue on the bench.
As for Atletico, Thomas Lemar's recent return to fitness means that Simeone currently has a full squad, with no fresh issues being reported in the build-up to this weekend's contest.
Head coach Simeone could make just one change from the side that started against Getafe, with Conor Gallagher likely to return in a wide area, which would see Samuel Lino drop to the bench.
Sorloth is again expected to be among the substitutes despite scoring against Getafe, with Griezmann and Alvarez in line to feature as the front two, while Koke is also likely to miss out on a spot in the first XI this weekend.
Barcelona possible starting lineup:
Pena; Kounde, Cubarsi, Martinez, Balde; Casado, Pedri; Olmo, F Lopez, Raphinha; Lewandowski
Atletico Madrid possible starting lineup:
Oblak; Llorente, Gimenez, Lenglet, Galan; Simeone, De Paul, Barrios, Gallagher; Alvarez, Griezmann
SM words green background
We say: Barcelona 1-1 Atletico Madrid
This is such a difficult match to call; it would not be a surprise to see a home or indeed an away win on Saturday, but both managers would view a point as a solid result, and a very tight match could end with the points being shared here, opening the door for Real Madrid to finish the year at the top of the division.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
ID:560965:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:collect15274:
Previews by email
Click here to get Sports Mole's daily email of previews and predictions for every major game!