Today, there will be a serious clash for the two biggest clubs in La Liga, both of which are trying not to fall behind the leaders – Real Madrid and Girona. In the run-up to the weekend, Barcelona was the only team, excluding the leading pair, that lost only one game in the championship throughout the season, but draws became their downfall. The fourth draw came in the last round against “Rayo Vallecano” (1:1), and a fortunate own goal in the late stages spared them from a shameful defeat. Under the guidance of Xavi, they achieved a decisive victory in the Champions League over “Porto” (2:1) this week, advancing to the knockout stage with one game to spare. This was the fourth official match in a row where the Catalans conceded first, which is an unpleasant trend, especially considering that they managed to win only one of the last six meetings with Atletico Madrid when their opponents opened the scoring. Ter Stegen and Gavi will be unavailable for the match.
The guests are equal on points with the hosts but have a greater goal difference and a game in hand. This result means that Atletico is seven points ahead, compared to the same stage last season, emphasizing the progress of Diego Simeone’s team this year. Securing a place in the Champions League playoffs with a 3-1 victory over “Feyenoord” this week was another testament to this, especially after they failed to advance from the group stage last year. The victory in Rotterdam was the fourth in a row for Atletico in all competitions. During this series, they scored 13 goals and conceded only two, which should mean that they approach this game with confidence. Although the Madrid team has not won at “Camp Nou” since 2006, the fact that Barcelona is playing its home matches at the “Olympic Luis Companys” stadium this season could eliminate the psychological disadvantage that has often haunted them in head-to-head meetings. Vitolo, Lemar, and Barios will be unavailable for the game. More football prediction can be obtained from the link provided.
