Upcoming Match-ups

La Liga Odds: Barca Look To Bounce Back vs Atleti

Don Aguero

by Don Aguero in Soccer News

Updated Jan 17, 2018 · 9:39 AM PST

Barca defender Gerard Pique
"Barcelona vs Chivas 6" by Nathan Forget [CC BY 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)]

Atlético Madrid (+225) vs Barcelona (+140), Draw (+242)

Barcelona (15-6-2, 51 points) will travel to meet Atletico Madrid (13-6-4, 45 points) this Sunday (February 26) for a decisive La Liga game.

Barcelona are looking to bounce back after a terrible week. Their Champions League run is all but over after a devastating 4-0 loss to PSG, leaving them with a deficit that no Champions League team has ever come back from. They went onto end the week with a narrow 2-1 win against 17th-place Leganes in La Liga, relying on a 90th-minute penalty by Lionel Messi to clinch the three points.

The attacking trio of Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez, and Neymar has been strong enough to mask a lot of the team’s weaknesses this season. And time and time again, they have come to the rescue of an otherwise mediocre Barcelona squad. But when their attack has a bad game, the whole team comes apart.

Atletico have had a decent season so far. As expected, they’ve been a low-scoring, defensive-minded team in La Liga. They’ve drawn a few games that they should have won, but have been a consistent side, on the whole, throughout the season.

The two sides recently faced off in the Copa Del Rey semifinals, with Barcelona beating Atleti 2-1 in the first leg and drawing 1-1 in the second. Both games were close and, if it weren’t for some questionable refereeing, Atleti could have advanced instead of Barca.

Atletico are always tough on Barcelona. Their compact structure and defensive style of play presents unique challenges for the free-flowing Barcelona system. Atleti are more than comfortable allowing Barcelona to control possession and play within their half, relying instead on their quick counter-attack.

Aside from Real Madrid, they’re probably the toughest opponent for Barcelona in La Liga. Very few teams are better equipped to capitalize on Barca’s defensive weaknesses; Atletico’s attacks in transition are difficult for this Barcelona side to deal with.

If Barca play against Atletico like they did against Leganes, they’re not going to come away with three points, and I don’t trust them to show much better right now. Barcelona may have the best front three in the world, but that alone won’t be enough to beat Atletico Madrid on the road.

Pick: Atlético Madrid (+225)

Author Image