Atletico Madrid vs Barcelona Prediction & Betting Tips - LaLiga

Prediction published on 28/11/2019, 04:11  by Steve Ashfield | Modified on 29/11/2019 at 19:31 in LaLiga Predictions

With just one win from their last six matches in all competitions, these are nervy times for fourth placed Atletico Madrid who face the ultimate test this Sunday night at Wanda Metropolitano in the shape of champions and league leaders Barcelona. Despite their poor run of form, a win for Los Rojiblancos here would see them draw level on points with Barca in the La Liga table; however a defeat would leave them six points adrift in the title race and Barcelona have a game in hand. With so much at stake, we’re predicting a tense, low scoring encounter in the final fixture on Matchday 15. We’re only at the end of November, but it already feels like make or break time for Diego Simeone and his revamped Atletico Madrid side. A win against Barca this weekend puts them firmly back in the title hunt, but a defeat almost certainly leaves them with too much to find even at this early stage. On the European front, Atleti’s midweek 1-0 loss against Juventus in Turin means they need to beat Locomotiv Moscow at Wanda in a fortnight’s time to guarantee their progress to the Last 16 of the Champions League – a feat they should manage although the circumstances will inevitably heap plenty of pressure on Simeone’s men.

After a tough trip to Italy and a poor 1-1 draw at Granada last weekend, the host’s simply don’t look well placed at all to take on Barca this weekend, especially considering that the Catalan giants have found their mojo again. Ernesto Valverde’s side began November with a woeful 3-1 defeat at Levante and a dull 0-0 stalemate away to Slavia Prague, but they have since posted three straight wins against Celta Vigo (4-1), Leganes (1-2) and Borussia Dortmund (3-1). Barca are comfortably through to the knockout stages of the Champions League which means they can fully focus on La Liga over the next few months, with everything building towards El Clasico on 18th December.  Barca lead the way with Real Madrid at present but know they will probably need three points here to stay on top with Los Blancos fancied to get the better of Alaves on Saturday. They are arguably the most likely winners on Sunday night based on current form and the recent head to head (W4, D4 from last eight meetings) however it’s also important to remember that Atleti are unbeaten in their last 17 matches at Wanda. With that in mind, we’re going for a 1-1 draw this Sunday, which has been the outcome in three of the last six encounters. .