Atletico Madrid V Barcelona
Sunday 1st December 2019 – 20:00 Kick-Off
Spanish La Liga
Pick: Barcelona Draw No Bet
Odds: 5/6
Bookmaker: Bet365
Spanish La Liga Betting with 22Bet
(All betting odds displayed were correct as of 28 November 2019 at 19:20)
Preview: The biggest game of the weekend in Spain – possibly even in Europe – involves the defending champions going to the Wanda Metropolitano, as Barcelona travel to Atletico Madrid in La Liga.
Atletico Madrid Vs Barcelona Live Stats & Betting Odds
Atletico Madrid Preview – Simeone desperately needs a statement victory?
Distant runners-up in each of the past two seasons, Atletico Madrid (4th – W6 D7 L1, GF16 GA9) have essentially been Barcelona’s shadow in recent times. Unable to surpass them or better them – aside from eliminating them on two separate occasions in the Champions League, that is – not since February of 2010 have they got the better of them in a domestic setting (24 matches/18 in La Liga).
Finishing a full season on top of any league is all the more difficult when you cannot beat your main rival – Liverpool’s near-heroics in the Premier League last season a prime example. Furthermore, one win in the last six matches in all competitions (W1 D3 L2) means they are hardly in ideal shape either, losing 1-0 in Turin on Tuesday to Juventus. Fans may well point to a recent unbeaten run of ten games (W3 D7) as reason for remaining bullish, but seven draws diminishes some of the sheen.
Among that litany of stalemates is a goalless, and rather dour affair, with Real Madrid at the end of September in what was another missed opportunity to land a telling blow in a crucial fixture. Atletico simply haven’t won enough of the big games, with Diego Simeone setting out to not lose as opposed to must win. However, their home form does remain imperious as ever – no loss in 14 (W10 D4) – as does their defensive work, with no team conceding fewer on average (0.64 per game).
Barcelona Preview – Are Messi & Co. vulnerable on their travels?
With Europe no longer a pressing concern, the focus for Barcelona (1st – W9 D1 L3, GF35 GA16) can switch almost exclusively to performances in La Liga, which haven’t always been up to scratch despite recent form to the contrary. Beating Leganes a week ago made it seven wins in eight in the league, which says a lot about their tumultuous start to the season that such a scintillating period of results is only sufficient enough for a share of the outright lead at present.
That slender advantage at the summit wouldn’t have been an advantage at all were it not for them staging a second-half comeback last time out. Falling behind in that aforementioned Leganes encounter, this was a second poor showing in as many away matches, after losing 3-1 to Levante earlier in the month. For whatever reason, Barca have become very unreliable when out of their Camp Nou bubble, winning less than 50% of the time in said fixtures (W3 D1 L3).
It does however seem odd to be talking so pessimistically about a team that has made winning a habit again lately. They’ve won ten of the last twelve in all competitions (W10 D1 L1), which becomes seven from eight in the league (W7 L1). It should be ominous form, yet nobody is truly convinced about Ernesto Valverde’s side. Teams that probably shouldn’t cause them problems have done so all too often this season, and there are limits to how many times their star-studded attack can bail them out of trouble.
Atletico Madrid Vs Barcelona Key Facts:
- Atletico Madrid haven’t lost in the league at home since February (W10 D4).
- Barcelona have won seven of the last eight league games (W7 L1), but have suffered all three of their defeats away from home (W3 D1 L3).
- The previous two meetings in Madrid would both finish 1-1.
Betting Summary
Atletico Madrid (7/4 Betway) would last lose a home game in La Liga in February, which is fourteen without losing there (W10 D4). Yet their recent form is far less impressive, having won one of six in all competitions (W1 D3 L2). There are also reports of a number of influential first-team figures missing this game through injury, with Diego Costa and Jose Gimenez both doubtful.
Barcelona (17/10 Boylesports) have not been convincing in some of their away matches this season, whether that be in Europe or La Liga. Something isn’t quite right, but when you boast mass amounts of goal potential it can help disguise some of these flaws. Seven wins in the last eight league games is still far superior form than that of their opponents, although lesser sides than Atletico have caused this Barca team problems this season.
For all their intermittent issues on the road, Barcelona are an attractive proposition at the odds. They’ve not lost away to Atletico Madrid in La Liga on nine previous visits (W6 D3), so backing them Draw No Bet at 5/6 makes a lot of sense. Lionel Messi hasn’t scored in this fixture for two seasons running but looks a big price to net at 8/5 with Unibet.
