Barcelona vs Atletico Madrid: La Liga Match Preview and Prediction

On December 21 at 23:00 Moscow time, Barcelona will host Atletico Madrid in the 18th round of La Liga. Here’s a preview of this highly anticipated match between two of Spain’s top clubs.

Barcelona’s Recent Form

Barcelona have been struggling in La Liga recently, with just one win in their last five matches. They currently sit third in the table, level on points with Atletico but having played one more game. However, their Champions League form has been much better, with five straight wins after losing their opener.

Barcelona lead La Liga in goals scored with 50, but their defense has been shaky, conceding 20 goals so far. Their last match was a disappointing 1-0 loss to Leganes.

Atletico Madrid’s Recent Form

Atletico are in excellent form, on an 11-match winning streak across all competitions. In La Liga, they’ve won their last six matches to move up to second place, one point ahead of rivals Real Madrid. They’ve also won their last three Champions League games.

Atletico have the joint-best defense in La Liga, conceding just 11 goals. Their attack has also been potent, scoring 31 goals – the third most in the league. They’re coming off a 1-0 win over Getafe in their last match.

Head-to-Head Record

Barcelona have dominated this fixture recently, winning the last five meetings between the teams. Last season, they won 1-0 at home and 3-0 away against Atletico.

Match Prediction

While Barcelona have had the upper hand in recent meetings, Atletico’s current form makes them slight favorites. Barcelona’s defensive issues could be exploited by Atletico’s in-form attack. A draw or narrow Atletico win seems the most likely outcome.

Prediction: Barcelona 1-1 Atletico Madrid