FC Barcelona vs Club Atlético de Madrid SS4 (17:00 - 17:55) & SS1 (17:15 - end)

Turtwig

All season long these games have been enjoyable. It was a travesty that RTE/TV3 didn't show their CL meetings. Atleti deserved to win the second leg, Barca deserved to win their first leg, but crucially they didn't and more importantly both games were brilliant! These teams have drawn pretty much all season. They're tightly matched in every area and there's a such an excellent contrast to them too. Atleti are about physical pace, organisation, defence and counter attacking. Barca about patience, pressing, and attacking.

Form wise both teams, have been off the boil a bit lately. Atleti showing signs of nerve/fatigue, hard to say which. Barca playing with little to no coherence in attack. Far too static. One key question that will play a huge role in this match will be: How much distance with Messi cover?
Lately, he's been hit and miss. Messi can win anyone any game but the way Barcelona play they require all players putting in their shift. If Messi is static their attacking play is far too predictable and leaves them heavily exposed to the counter attack.

On paper, Atleti have to be favourites. Barca's back line is missing. Mascherano and Pinto are capable of crazy moments. The latter also makes it far far easier for teams to play a high pressing game against Barca's back line. Bartra, while quality, is still inexperienced and has the unenviable task of managing Costa. Barca's forward line isn't exactly the most blunt of instruments either. They have to win too!

Problem is Atleti are in a very unique situation. They've been known to lose their shape a little recently. Costa looks off colour a bit lately, their defence has looked more shaky than it has been all season. Koke and Turan could do with some rest. This is also the time where they need to take their chances. They've squandered so many chances in their most recent matches it's quite startling.

The recipes are there for another intriguing game that is too hard to call as there are so many variables on both teams that can change the outcome. The "neutral" in me wants Atleti to win. Their season deserves at least one trophy.

JPA

On paper Barcelona are favourites because they are at home. In reality it's too close to call.

Glico Man

Vito Corleone wrote: »

Barca only allocated just over 400 seats for away fans I believe, pretty scummy.

It's pretty much like that for all away teams fans in la liga. It's not exclusive to barca

Amirani

Forza Atleti Ale! Very excited about this one.

Turtwig

Diego Simeone wrote: »

Forza Atleti Ale! Very excited about this one.

Jesus Christ!

Will you ever get off boards and start prepping your team for the biggest game in their season so far!:mad:

SantryRed

Vito Corleone wrote: »

Barca only allocated just over 400 seats for away fans I believe, pretty scummy.

It's the norm in Spain if tickets are gonna sell out.

Scummy my hole. ****sake.

Unearthly

Come on Atletico - yes i'm jumping on the bandwagon, and you are not getting me off it!

Amirani

Unearthly wrote: »

Come on Atletico - yes i'm jumping on the bandwagon, and you are not getting me off it!

Hell yeah dude!

carlop

I think this will ultimately come down to the mentality and psychological condition that both sides are in.

For Barca, regardless of the outcome, this season will be viewed as a failure. The boardroom has split, the controversy over Neymar's transfer fee has proved a major embarrassment and the fans have turned on the team. If they win the league, it will just be one more title for most of these players, and probably not one that will feature heavily in any personal highlights reel.

This means that there is very little pressure on them. They had already conceded the title and consigned this season to the past. A title is a bonus, but it won't change the overall narrative, especially if Real Madrid go on to win the decima.

For Atleti, the pressure is immense. Realistically, most of these players will never scale these heights again. All season the question was when they would run out of steam. They were never the favourites and the fans hoped and dreamt rather than expected. Two weeks ago that changed. The 3,000 + away fans in Levante did not travel in hope. They went expecting to see the next Champions of Spain. The 55,000 fans packed into the Calderon last week would have felt the same way, especially as Barca struggled to break down a stubborn Elche side.

In the huge games that have defined Diego Simeone's side, they have always gone into them as underdogs, as a side riding the crest of a wave that was about to hit rocks. They thrived on this tag of the plucky underdog, turning in incredibly intense performances in the Copa del Rey final, the Champions League final and both league derbies. They need to find this intensity again today.

If they get nervous and edgy, they will allow Barcelona to settle into a routine. If they fly out of the traps, the fact that they want this so much more than their opponents should see them over the line.

Amirani

Great post carlop.

I really wish I had bought tickets for this one rather than the one at the Calderon earlier on in the season.

Too Tough To Die

Barca win, Messi winner. Serving notice ahead of the world cup.

carlop

Diego Simeone wrote: »

Great post carlop.

I really wish I had bought tickets for this one rather than the one at the Calderon earlier on in the season.

Ha funnily enough I also went over for the league match at the Calderon. I moved back to Dublin from Madrid last September. I really wish I'd stuck around one more year!

miralize

No xavi

Line up: Pinto, Alves, Pique, Mascherano, Adriano, Sergio, Cesc, Iniesta, Alexis, Pedro and Messi

Son Of A Vidic

Rooting for Atlético de Madrid all the way and I would love to see them do it.

Turtwig

miralize wrote: »

No xavi

Pique is a bit of a gamble. He's only just back. Huge game to put him back into. Also, I'd have himself and Bartra.

No Xavi is a very interesting one. Can Cesc/Iniesta really perform his role? It's at moments like this where Barca's loss of Thiago seems all the more stupider.

miralize

Happy with Alexis / Pedro even though theyve been poor for a few weeks. They know whats at stake - if they work their asses off we can do this...

shrewdness

Come on Atleti, would love to see them do it.

Amirani

"Xavi on the bench purely tactical. The last act of Tata who never fully believed in the FCB style" - Ballague.

Amirani

#El11 del Atlético: Courtois, Juanfran, Miranda, Godín, Filipe Luis, Gabi, Tiago, Koke, Arda, Diego Costa y Villa

Attacking team.

Nuri Sahin

Atleti Double Chance @ 23/20 with Coral and Pinnacle looks nice.

dreamers75

Was about to piss and moan about the 5.15 SS1 one thing till i noticed its on SS4 now.

Turtwig

Ahh fudge, Gerry not in the studio. Good chance he's commentating now. For me, that's a pity. Still hopeful.

Vito Corleone

The absence of Xavi from the starting line up today will prove crucial. 2-2 draw.

SantryRed

Turtwig wrote: »

Ahh fudge, Gerry not in the studio. Good chance he's commentating now. For me, that's a pity. Still hopeful.

Can't wait for the abuse of Pinto to start. He absolutely hates him :pac:

Turtwig

Least, he's not like that Lawrenson chap with his abuse and the targets of abuse. Those disgusting insults at Diego Lopez. Couldn't believe Trevor Welch or whoever let him continue with it.:(

obezyana

Would love to see A Madrid win it they deserve it but on the other hand if Barca win at least I won't have to look at a sulking son for the night.

ctrl-alt-delete

Qatar v Azerbaijan

Cracking card display that!

Kylo Ren

I would love to see Villa score.

KERSPLAT!

Come on Atleti!!

miralize

difficult to see that happen to anyone. If costa misses the cl/world cup i'd be gutted..

Johner

Costa.

klose

Costa is done

Feel sorry for Costa..World Cup in doubt also

Lovely Bloke

Jaysis, that's a blow alright.

Also to chelsea.

klose

Adrian on for costa

Lovely Bloke

I know Pique has been booked, but Barca are getting away with murder here.

Unlucky if Turan has to go off too

Nuri Sahin

KERSPLAT!

Turan as well

klose

This is ridiculous, arda is going off now too!

user2011

:(:(

Can't believe this!!!

mike65

Small over worked squad is coming back to haunt.

Talk about ****e luck...

Jelle1880

This is horrible, Costa and Turan off...

Barca getting almost every call from the ref.

Will I Amnt

Talk about sh*te luck.

Lovely Bloke

Masch leading with the elbow there.

Will I Amnt

M!Ck^ wrote: »

Talk about ****e luck...

Ha, snap :pac:

shrewdness

Jesus this is disastrous. Hopefully the team can push on and get a result, and Costa and Turan receive favourable news on the injuries. Would be heartbreaking to miss out on the CL final now at this stage, or even the World Cup in Costa's case.

Johner

This ref is a joke.

Barca tackle from behind again and get away with murder, and I hate when the constantly berate the referee and get in his face Messi getting away with it too

Lovely Bloke

Johner wrote: »

This ref is a joke.

absolute homer, Barca definitely getting favourable decisions here

ctrl-alt-delete

shrewdness wrote: »

Jesus this is disastrous. Hopefully the team can push on and get a result, and Costa and Turan receive favourable news on the injuries. Would be heartbreaking to miss out on the CL final now at this stage, or even the World Cup in Costa's case.

Costa looked like a man who will be missing the champs league final, he was inconsolable on the bench.