Top defences go head to head

A lot has been said, and rightly so, about FC Barcelona's defensive prowess this season. But Atlético Madrid, who come to Spotify Camp Nou this weekend (Sunday at 4.15pm CEST), are not to be sniffed at either. The best two defences in Spain are also in the top three in Europe.

Goals against

Marc André Ter Stegen and Jan Oblack are the two least beaten goalkeepers in La Liga. The German has only been beaten nine times, which is simply incredible, making the 21 scored against the Slovenian not seem like a lot, but it's still a very impressively low tally.

Barça and Atlético are ranked second and third in Europe's top five leagues. The team that's squeezed it's way in between them is Lazio, who have only leaked 20 goals in Serie A.

Clean sheets

Barça are also on another planet when it comes to shutouts. There have been no fewer than 22 games in which the opposition has failed to put a single goal past the blaugrana defence. Atlético have 12 clean sheets, and that ranks them second in Spain.

It almost goes without saying that Barça has been keeping the cleanest sheets in Europe. Atlético also make the top ten, matched with PSG, Lens and Arsenal. Under Diego Simeone, the red-and-whites have become masters at stopping opposing teams from scoring, and their records of 24 clean sheets in 2015/16 and 23 in 2017/18 are the ones that Barça are closing in on in spectacular fashion this season

Duel between the sticks

It is not just goalkeepers who are to be thanked for keeping goals against counts down, but it is also true that in Jan Oblak and Ter Stegen, Atlético and Barça have two pairs of very safe hands.

This is reflected by their respective saves per shot ratios. Barça have an 87.5% rate in this regard and Atlético have 75%, the first and third best tallies in the league. Real Madrid are second with 75.76% and Villarreal have 44%.