Barcelona vs Atletico Madrid – Predictions, betting odds and predictions

If your glass is half full, Barcelona made an unbeaten start to the second half of the La Liga and will return to the top of the table with victory over Atletico Madrid on Tuesday. In this light, there doesn’t seem to be much need for destruction and darkness.

Yet not everything is going well at Camp Nou right now. Saturday’s inability to beat a Celta Vigo who is only one place above the relegation zone on Saturday saw another loss of ground on Real Madrid, which in the meantime extended its winning run against Espanyol. Quique Setien’s team have now won only four of their last seven games, a return which is not good enough if they want to keep the title this term.

Barcelona’s problems lie right across the field. The defense had held up quite well before this weekend’s trip to Balaidos, when Celta had scored two goals and could have had more. The attack relies more on Lionel Messi than ever, and many of its possibilities were created thanks to the individual genius of the Argentine international or Luis Suarez. In midfield, there is less control than in past years and the team lacks the engraving and precision of the old man.

All is not lost for Blaugrana, who remains a lot in the title race with six rounds of games remaining. But Barcelona seems to lose shape at the wrong time, with Real Madrid demonstrating the steel and resistance that has been lacking in Catalonia. Barcelona’s inability to beat Atletico this week would put Madrid on pole position to win only its third league crown since 2008.

Barcelona vs Atletico Madrid Odds

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Barcelona can at least draw optimism from its recent record against Atletico. He lost the accusations of Diego Simeone in the Super Cup in January, but the last 19 meetings between the La Liga couple have produced 14 victories in Barcelona and five draws. Surprisingly, Atleti have never defeated Barcelona in the top flight under Simeone and you have to return in February 2010 for his last win in this competition.

Atletico has one of the worst defenses on the planet and Simeone will savor the challenge of keeping Barcelona out on Tuesday. However, a narrow home win – perhaps with only one lead – seems the most likely outcome.

The irregular shape of Barcelona does not bode well for the seasonal run-in

Even in recent victories against Leganes and Athletic Club, Barcelona didn’t seem entirely convincing. Following a disappointing spell under Ernesto Valverde, he enjoyed a brief recovery after Setien’s appointment in January – the former Real Betis and Las Palmas manager has won all but one of his first six games at the helm – but since then was rejected by Madrid.

Barcelona have to go to Villarreal after this clash with Atletico, but his last four games of the campaign – all against teams currently in the lower half – don’t seem too daunting. However, Barca could get too busy if she loses points in the next two outings, which is why Tuesday’s game is so important.

The goal of third place would be respectable for Atletico after much sensation

Simeone is now in his ninth season at the head of Atletico and last summer he was one of the most seismic in his reign. Atletico sold the protagonist Antoine Griezmann to Barcelona before the current campaign, and also lost Rodri to Manchester City. Even more symbolically significant were the departures of Juanfran, Filipe Luis and Diego Godin, three longtime defenders who had been important players for Simeone for years.

Atletico spent a lot of response, mainly on Joao Felix but also on Marcos Llorente, Felipe, Renan Lodi, Mario Hermoso and Kieran Trippier. Discussions about a stylistic revolution abounded, but Atletico remained faithful to Simeone’s principles by giving priority to defense over attack. He has scored fewer goals than Betis in 13th place this season, but has the second best defensive record in the division. Barcelona will not participate in an easy game.

He advises Barcelona to emerge triumphantly, but not by much

However, it is difficult to see Atletico ending his miserable run against Barcelona. Simeone is a master at training well organized defenses, but it is claimed that he does not pay enough attention to the attack, especially in away games against the likes of Barcelona and Real Madrid when his team is underdog.

Therefore, the host will dominate possession at the Camp Nou and, although he will not carve the Atletico backline several times, he will probably do enough to score one or two goals that should be enough for the win.

Our choice

Return to Barcelona to win by one goal margin here – Atletico will keep things tight but Messi and co. in the end he should find a way out.