Atletico Madrid vs Barcelona
2 October 2000hrs
Football – Spain – La Liga
Pick Atletico Madrid
Bookmaker Betvictor
Odds: 37/40 odds taken 2000 GMT, Monday 27 September
The game of the week in La Liga sees champions Atletico Madrid take on a Barcelona side who remain undefeated in the league but have yet to really impress.
Table of Contents
Atletico Madrid Preview – Will Atleti return to winning ways at home and keep pace with leaders?
Last year’s title success is still fresh in the memory for Atleti and they are currently three points off leaders Real after the first seven games of this season. Four wins and two draws have been earned in typical fashion for a Diego Simeone led team who come into this game on the back of a vital 2-1 win away to AC Milan in the Champions League.
They’ve drawn their last three at home and are unbeaten in their last 11 at the Wanda Metropolitano.
No matter who Simeone brings to the club and how many attacking players he has at his disposal this Atletico Madrid team seem incapable of becoming a more dynamic and expansive team. Antoine Griezmann, Matheus Cunha and Rodrigo De Paul have all been recruited in the most recent transfer window adding to the likes of Luis Suarez, Joao Felix and Angel Correa. Despite that Atleti have yet to score more than two goals in a game and failed to score in three of their last five.
The talent is there but the demands that Simeone places on his forwards and midfield is clearly impacting their production in forward areas. It’s a style which has been successful so hard to be too critical of it but you feel there could be even greater rewards if the shackles were taken off.
Barcelona Preview – Can the inexperienced Barca team get better of the champions on the road?
Ronald Koeman is a man under fire. Despite his success as a player at Barcelona and an encouraging first season in charge as head coach, the Dutchman is finding life must tougher post-Messi. That is an obvious thing to say of course but the reality was always going to be whoever in charge taking the flak for a drop-off in performances. Add to that Barca’s woeful financial health just now and it’s hard to see an immediate fix for the problem’s they face on the field.
Koeman’s team got a much-needed win against Levante last weekend with the highlight being a goal for Ansu Fati on his return. His pace and quality could be a real asset for Barca who have been much more direct this season, attempting to utilise the strengths of Luuk de Jong and Martin Braithwaite.
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Their other two wins in the campaign have come against Getafe and Real Sociedad. The latter of those came on the opening day of the season and was easily their best performance so far. Their inability to find any consistency should probably not come as a surprise but Koeman has to find a way to engineer some or he could well be off sooner than expected.
This marks a really important month for the coach and his players. Barca have Real Madrid in late October and these two games are likely to go a long way to shaping what sort of season they have.
Atletico Madrid vs Barcelona Betting Advice
For all the challenges that Barca have faced and uninspiring performances that they have put in so far this season, a win here would take them above their opponents despite having played a game less.
Atletico have not been overly impressive either but we’re used to that being the case and there is more confidence that it is sustainable for Simeone’s team.
Key Facts – Atletico Madrid vs Barcelona Betting Tip
- Atletico Madrid have scored the second fewest number of goals of teams currently in the top half of La Liga
- Barca have drawn both of their away games in the league this season
- Seven of the last eight meetings have went under 2.5 goals
As you would expect this is a fixture where there is little to choose between two teams who are so often competing against each other for domestic honours over the last decade.
There have been four draws in the last eight meetings but Barca have won three of those. Atleti’s solitary win in that time came in this fixture last season.
I expect this to be another close game. Under 2.5 goals has landed in seven of the last eight league meetings and should be another sound selection here.
Best Betting Odds for Atletico Madrid vs Barcelona
