The lowdown on Atlético Madrid
Barça travel to Atlético Madrid this Sunday at 9.00pm CET in what is traditionally one of the toughest away trips of any Liga season. And this year's game with the 'mattress-makers' is more decisive than ever, with both team hot in oursuit of the league trophy.
HISTORY
Founded by Basques living in the Spanish capital (hence the name and the red and white shirts modelled on those of Athletic Club), Atlético Madrid is one of the biggest clubs in the world. But competing in the same league as the even more gargantuan Real Madrid and FC Barcelona means trophies have been harder to come by than one would normally expect for a club of such stature.
They have won the league eleven times, most recently in 2021. They have also won the Europa League three times in the last decade, while also reaching the Champions League final twice, suffering the pain of losing on both occasions to their city rivals Real.
THE STADIUM
Located in the Rosas neighbourhood, the Riyadh Air Metropolitano, as it is currently known, replaced the Vicente Calderón as the home of Atlético in 2017. It is an expansion of an abandoned ground originally built for an unsuccessful bid to host the World Athletics Championships. Holding over 68,000 supporters, it was here that Liverpool beat Tottenham Hotspur 2-0 to win the Champions League in 2019.
HEAD TO HEAD
Barça and Atlético had a long tradition of producing high-scoring thrillers, but that has changed since Diego Simeone took over at Atlético in 2011, with the fixture tending to yield far more intense, tactical, low-scoring affairs. Barça generally had the upper hand, going for 20 games without defeat to the red-and-whites until 2020.
And Simeone still hadn't won a single game away to Barça (17 failed attempts) until his side won 2-1 at the Estadi Olimpic earlier this season, a frustrating day for Barça when they totally outplayed their opponent but twice got caught on the break. Atlético are now hoping to do the league double over Barça for the first time since 2005/06.
And, of course, the teams met in a humdinger of a Copa del Rey semi-final first leg just the other day, Barça coming from 2-0 down to lead 4-2 and then conceding two late goals so it all ended 4-4.
Barça have won on their last two league visits to the Metropolitano, and kept clean sheets on both occasions.
Last five meetings
5/02/25 (COPA) Barça 4-4 Atlético
21/12/24 (LIGA) Barça 1-2 Atlético
17/03/24 (LIGA) Atlético 0-3 Barça
03/12/23 (LIGA) Barça 1-0 Atlético
23/04/23 (LIGA) Barça 1-0 Atlético
FORM GUIDE
Atlético only lost one of their first 19 games this league season, including a particularly impressive run of eight consecutive victories that sent them to the top of the table until an unexpected defeat away to Leganés. However, they have very much stayed locked in a fascinating title chase along with Barça and Real Madrid, but missed out on the chance to go back to the top when they were stunned by two late goals away to Getafe last week.
They've been especially strong at home, where they haven't lost in the league this season, the overall run now going back 14 games to a loss to Osasuna before last summer.
They have also been having a good run in the Copa del Rey, only conceding one goal on their way to the semi-final, where they earned a 4-4 draw away to Barça. The second leg of that game is coming in the first week of April.
As for the Champions League, after a slow start they eventually qualified directly for the last 16, and ended up facing their city rivals Real Madrid. Following a 2-2 draw on aggregate they were eventually defeated on penalties, with Julian Alvarés' controversially disallowed kick giving the football world plenty to talk about in the last few days.
THE PLAYERS
Most capped internationals
Axel Witsel (Belgium, 132), Antoine Griezmann (France, 137); José Giménez (Uruguay, 92); Rodrigo de Paul, Argentina 75), Koke (Spain, 70); Jan Oblak (Slovenia, 74); Alexander Sørloth (Norway 59), César Azpilicueta (Spain, 44), Julián Alvarez (Argentina 42), Reinildo Mandava (Mozambique, 47), Nahuel Molina (Argentina, 48), Thomas Lemar (France, 27), Ángel Correa (Argentina, 25), Conor Gallagher (England 21)
Barça connections
Antoine Griezmann joined Barça from Atlético Madrid in 2019, and after making 74 appearances and scoring 22 goals, making him the club’s second highest scoring Frenchman of all time after Thierry Henry, he is now back at Atlético. He has scored twice against Barça in the past, both when playing for Real Sociedad, but has yet to do so for Atlético.
French defender Clement Lenglet joined Barça from Sevilla in 2018, but after 105 appearances he was loaned first to Tottenham and then to Aston Villa in England. He is still officially on the Barça books but this year he again being loaned out.
THE BOSS
Best known for his over 100 caps, including three World Cups, for Argentina, Diego Simeone played a large part of his club football at Atlético. Following retirement, he managed a number of clubs in his home country plus Catania in Italy before being invited back to Atlético in 2011 as a replacement for the sacked Gregorio Manzano.
He has gone on to become the club’s most successful manager ever, leading them to two Liga and three Europa League titles, and to the final of the Champions League on two occasions.