Match Preview: Atlético Madrid v FC Barcelona

The league champions from the last two seasons meet in the Vicente Calderón on Saturday at 8.30pm CET with both teams looking to maintain their perfect start to the league campaign

La Liga returns after the recent international break with a heavyweight contest that pits the reigning league champions, FC Barcelona, against the champions from two seasons ago, Atlético Madrid, the first of seven games in 22 days for the blaugranes. The two sides have met in the league, the Champions League, the Copa del Rey and the Spanish Super Cup in recent years and on Saturday at 8.30pm CET in the Vicente Calderón they come face to face in just the third week of the 2015/16 campaign. Both sides have 100% per cent records in the league so far. Luis Enrique’s side will be looking to extend that record and end Atlético’s perfect start.

Team news

Barça trained on Friday for the final time before the trip to Madrid to take on Atlético. Leo Messi missed the session for personal reasons but was named in an 18 man squad announced by coach Luis Enrique following the session at the Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper. The good news for the blaugranes is the return of Adriano after injury and the Brazilian was named in the travelling part which is as follows: Ter Stegen, Masip, Rakitic, Sergio, Iniesta, Suárez, Messi, Neymar, Rafinha, Mascherano, Bartra, Munir, Jordi Alba, Sandro, Sergi Roberto, Adriano, Vermaelen and Mathieu. Missing are goalkeeper Claudio Bravo who has a calf strain, the suspended Gerard Piqué and the injured Brazilian defenders Douglas and Dani Alves.

Atlético coach Diego Pablo Simeone also named his squad after their final training session on Friday. Like his counterpart Luis Enrique, the Argentine coach’s preparations this week have been hampered by the absence of players on international duty. However, Simeone has no injury worries ahead of the visit of Barça and so Atlético should be at full strength for the game on Saturday.

Coaches’ viewpoint

Barça boss Luis Enrique faced the press as usual the day before his team’s date in the Vicente Calderón. The Asturian was quick to dismiss the recent international as an excuse for any possible slip up: "I expect a tough game regardless of the break. The visit [to Madrid] in itself presents certain difficulties, If we don't play well, Atlético will hurt us. The [international] hiatus is not an excuse, neither for us nor for our rivals." Commenting on Atlético’s new look squad for this season, he added: "They re-armed themselves very, very well this summer."

Atlético coach Simeone also appeared before the press on Friday and revealed that he was still looking for the formula to improve his side’s record against the blaugranes: “We haven’t come across the right formula, but we have competed. Without doubt, as in the last few games against them, we will be pegged back in our own half waiting for the chance to counterattack.”

Form guide

Barça have not lost away from home in the league since a 1-0 reverse in Anoeta against Real Sociedad back in January, Luis Enrique’s side have won ten of their last eleven games away from home in the league. The blaugranes have won both their league games so far this season, away at Athletic and home to Málaga, taking their unbeaten run in La Liga to 16 matches. Atlético, for their part, have also won both their games in the league so far this season, overcoming Las Palmas at home and following that up with an impressive away at Sevilla. Diego Simeone’s side have only lost two of their last 38 league games at the Calderón, the last coming when Leo Messi’s goal handed Barça the title in the penultimate match of the season.

History

The blaugranes have won on 22 occasions in the league in the Calderón out of a total of 78 visits in the league. Barça have won on three of their last four visits in La Liga and have not lost in Manzanares since the season 2009/10. Luis Enrique’s side won twice last season at Atlético: a 3-2 win the Copa del Rey gave them a 4-2 win on aggregate and a 1-0 win in May in the league handed them the league title.

Coverage

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Source: http://ift.tt/1ik9rIw