Barcelona and Atlético Madrid have confirmed their lineups for Sunday’s highly anticipated La Liga clash at Camp Nou. The hosts will be without key midfielder Frenkie de Jong, while Atlético will miss forward Ángel Correa for the 16:15 BST kick-off.
Barcelona manager Xavi has opted for a 4-3-3 formation, with Gavi starting in midfield alongside Sergio Busquets and Pedri. Atlético, meanwhile, have chosen a 5-3-2 setup, with Antoine Griezmann and Matheus Cunha leading the line. The match will be broadcast live on Sky Sports in the UK.
Both teams are looking to secure crucial points in their pursuit of a top-four finish, with Barcelona currently sitting third and Atlético in fifth place. The Catalan giants will be aiming to extend their unbeaten home record this season, while Atlético will be eager to bounce back from their 2-0 defeat to Real Madrid last time out.
Barcelona and Atlético Madrid finalise squads for crucial showdown
Barcelona and Atlético Madrid have finalised their squads for Sunday’s highly anticipated La Liga showdown at Camp Nou. Both managers have made their selections, with key players available for selection after recovering from injuries.
Barcelona manager Xavi has included all his first-team players in the squad. The Catalan giants will be looking to bounce back from their midweek Champions League defeat to Bayern Munich. Xavi confirmed that Pedri and Ousmane Dembélé are fit and available for selection after recent injury concerns.
Atlético Madrid manager Diego Simeone has also named a strong squad for the trip to Barcelona. The Colchoneros will be eager to extend their unbeaten run in La Liga, which currently stands at six matches. Simeone stated in his pre-match press conference, “We are ready for a tough game. Barcelona are a strong team, but we have the quality to compete with them.”
Barcelona’s squad includes three goalkeepers: Marc-André ter Stegen, Iñaki Peña, and Arnau Tenas. The defence features the likes of Ronald Araújo, Gerard Piqué, and Jordi Alba. Midfield options include Frenkie de Jong, Sergio Busquets, and Gavi, while the attack is spearheaded by Robert Lewandowski, Ansu Fati, and Ferran Torres.
Atlético Madrid’s squad includes Jan Oblak in goal, with Jan Vertonghen, Stefan Savic, and Mario Hermoso forming the defensive line. The midfield boasts the likes of Koke, Rodrigo de Paul, and Yannick Carrasco. The attack is led by Antoine Griezmann, with Álvaro Morata and Matheus Cunha providing further options.
The match kicks off at 21:00 CEST on Sunday evening. Both teams will be aiming for victory, with Barcelona looking to close the gap on La Liga leaders Real Madrid, while Atlético Madrid seeks to consolidate their position in the top four.
Key players confirmed for high-stakes La Liga encounter
Barcelona and Atlético Madrid have finalised their lineups for Sunday’s highly anticipated La Liga encounter. The match, set to take place at Camp Nou, promises high stakes as both teams vie for crucial points in the league table.
Barcelona manager Xavi Hernández has opted for a familiar 4-3-3 formation. Marc-André ter Stegen will start in goal, with a defence featuring Ronald Araújo, Gerard Piqué, Jordi Alba, and Sergi Roberto. The midfield trio comprises Sergio Busquets, Frenkie de Jong, and Pedri, with the attacking trio of Memphis Depay, Ansu Fati, and Ousmane Dembélé.
Atlético Madrid, meanwhile, will field a 5-3-2 formation under manager Diego Simeone. Jan Oblak will guard the goal, with a defensive line of Stefan Savić, José María Giménez, Felipe, Kieran Trippier, and Yannick Carrasco. The midfield sees Marcos Llorente, Rodrigo Hernández, and Saúl Ñíguez, with the attacking duo of Luis Suárez and João Félix.
Both teams have key players returning from injury. Barcelona welcomes back Ansu Fati, who has been sidelined since October. Atlético Madrid sees the return of Luis Suárez, who has been out since early November. The clash is expected to be a thrilling display of football prowess and tactical acumen.
Injury updates and tactical insights ahead of Sunday's clash
Barcelona will be without the services of Ousmane Dembélé for Sunday’s clash against Atlético Madrid. The French winger sustained a hamstring injury during the midweek Champions League match against Bayern Munich. Head coach Xavi confirmed the absence, stating, “Dembélé won’t be available for the game. We’ll have to manage without him.”
Ansu Fati is set to start in Dembélé’s place. The young forward has been in impressive form recently, scoring two goals in his last three appearances. Xavi praised Fati’s progress, noting, “Ansu has shown great maturity and is ready to take on this responsibility.”
Atlético Madrid, meanwhile, will be without their star striker, Álvaro Morata. The Spanish international picked up a muscle injury in training this week. Manager Diego Simeone revealed, “Morata is out. We’ll have to find a way to cope without our main striker.”
Yannick Carrasco is expected to replace Morata in the starting lineup. The Belgian winger has been in good form, scoring three goals in his last five appearances. Simeone highlighted Carrasco’s versatility, stating, “Yannick can play in multiple positions and will be crucial for us.”
Barcelona’s midfield will see a familiar face return. Sergio Busquets is back from suspension and will start against Atlético. Xavi emphasised Busquets’ importance, saying, “Sergio is a key player for us. His experience and leadership will be vital.”
Atlético’s defensive line remains unchanged. The team will stick with the same back four that kept three clean sheets in their last five matches. Simeone defended his defensive approach, noting, “We’ll continue to be solid defensively. That’s our strength.”
The match kicks off at 16:15 BST at Camp Nou. Both teams will be looking to secure a vital three points in the La Liga title race. The clash promises to be a tactical battle between two of Spain’s top managers.
Coaches reveal starting lineups for Barcelona vs Atlético Madrid
Barcelona and Atlético Madrid have announced their starting lineups for Sunday’s highly anticipated La Liga clash at Camp Nou. Barcelona coach Xavi has opted for a familiar 4-3-3 formation, with key players such as Robert Lewandowski and Pedri starting.
Atlético Madrid manager Diego Simeone has chosen a 5-3-2 formation, with Antoine Griezmann and Álvaro Morata leading the attack. The lineup includes several regular starters, with no major surprises in the selection.
Barcelona’s defence features Ronald Araújo and Jules Koundé, with Sergi Roberto and Alejandro Balde providing width. The midfield trio consists of Sergio Busquets, Gavi, and Frenkie de Jong, with Lewandowski supported by Raphinha and Ansu Fati in attack.
Atlético Madrid’s back five includes Renan Lodi, Stefan Savić, and Mario Hermoso, with Kieran Trippier and Thomas Lemar providing defensive cover. The midfield features Rodrigo De Paul, Saúl Ñíguez, and Marcos Llorente, with Griezmann and Morata up front.
Both teams have several notable players on the bench, including Barcelona’s Memphis Depay and Ousmane Dembélé, and Atlético’s Yannick Carrasco and Matheus Cunha. The match promises to be a thrilling encounter, with both teams eager to secure a vital three points in the La Liga title race.
Matchday preparations intensify as teams announce final selections
Barcelona and Atlético Madrid have finalised their lineups for Sunday’s highly anticipated La Liga clash at Camp Nou. The hosts have opted for a familiar 4-3-3 formation, with key players like Robert Lewandowski and Pedri starting. Atlético, meanwhile, will field a 5-3-2 setup, with Antoine Griezmann leading the attack.
Barcelona’s manager, Xavi, has chosen to rest some of his key players, including Frenkie de Jong and Gavi. The decision comes after a gruelling midweek Champions League match. Atlético’s coach, Diego Simeone, has made no secret of his team’s defensive strategy. “We know Barcelona’s strengths,” he said in a pre-match press conference. “We’ll focus on nullifying their attack.”
The match kicks off at 16:15 BST, with temperatures expected to hover around 20°C. Both teams have had a week to prepare, with Barcelona coming off a 3-1 win against Napoli. Atlético, on the other hand, secured a 2-0 victory over Getafe.
Barcelona’s lineup: Marc-André ter Stegen, Jules Koundé, Ronald Araújo, Andreas Christensen, Alejandro Balde, Sergio Busquets, Gavi, Pedri, Ousmane Dembélé, Robert Lewandowski, Ferran Torres.
Atlético Madrid’s lineup: Jan Oblak, Nahuel Molina, Stefan Savic, José María Giménez, Mario Hermoso, César Azpilicueta, Rodrigo de Paul, Koke, Marcos Llorente, Antoine Griezmann, Álvaro Morata.
Barcelona and Atlético Madrid have set the stage for what promises to be a thrilling encounter. With both teams boasting formidable squads, the clash is expected to be a test of tactical prowess and individual brilliance. The outcome could have significant implications for the league standings, particularly if either side manages to secure a crucial three points. Fans and pundits alike will be watching closely to see how the teams’ strategies unfold on the pitch. The match is set to kick off at 4:30 PM BST, with live coverage available across various platforms.
