Atletico Madrid vs Barcelona Prediction & Betting Tips - LaLiga

Prediction published on 29/09/2021, 19:10  by Nella Wagah | Modified on 29/09/2021 at 19:13 in LaLiga Predictions

The biggest game in the Spanish La Liga this weekend has to be Atletico Madrid hosting Barcelona at the Wanda Metropolitano. The two sides are coming from Champions League action in a round that wasn’t so good for Spanish sides but this will be a completely different game. Hosts Atletico dropped to fourth in La Liga standings, with 14 points after losing 1-0 to Alaves in their last league game, while Barcelona climbed up, to sixth with 12 points after a 3-0 win over Levante. Atletico have struggled to score in their recent matches, failing in three of the last five, but head to this game on the back of an impressive comeback against AC Milan in the Champions League. Their recent matches have not exactly been free of controversy; red cards have been issued in four of their last five matches, with Joao Felix getting one of them. In the last three matches, Atletico have scored a total of four goals, three of them from former Barcelona man Luis Suarez. He will hope to carry this form to the game. His team has had just three clean sheets in the nine matches so far in the season and both teams have scored in five of the nine. Atletico have been a second half team for most of their matches so far; of the 11 goals they have scored, nine have come in the second half. At home, Atletico are unbeaten in 11 matches across all competitions and have lost just once in 33 league games. They are also unbeaten in the last three meetings with Barcelona and they look strong enough to extend this run.

Barcelona are going through very tough times; they are coming from another heavy defeat, 3-0 in the Champions League away game to Benfica. They’ve now failed to score in three of their last five matches and conceded three goals in two of the five. The Catalans have been poor defensively this season, with just two clean sheets in their eight matches. The shambolic nature of their defending came to the fore at Benfica and though they remain unbeaten in La Liga, it is just a matter of time. This are very trying moments for Barcelona. They have four wins in their last 10 league matches and have a number of key players injured, while the manager, Ronald Koeman is a man under immense pressure. They’ve played three away games so far, and have no win, scoring only one goal and losing two. The Catalan side will have to shape up in time, as after the international break, they have to play Valencia and Real Madrid back to back in La Liga. In between they’ll face off with Dinamo Kiev in the Champions League, a game they’ll be expected to win easily.