Atletico Madrid vs FC Barcelona - Champions League (Quarter Finals)
In La Liga, Atletico Madrid team closed the gap on league leaders FC Barcelona
to just three points by beating 3-1 Espanyol at the weekend. Following
the 1-2 defeat suffered in the first leg, the Colchoneros have now lost
all three meetings against Barcelona this season 2-1, with their total
of goals matched by the number of red cards they have incurred.
Coach Diego Simeone is once again expected to be without the services of centre-backs Jose Gimenez and Stefan Savic. Lucas Hernandez on standby to continue alongside Diego Godin. Of course, after the red card Fernando Torres is suspended for this game while Tiago is also unavailable after sustaining a broken leg recently. Correa is expected to play up-fron along with Griezmann and Ferreira Carrasco.
Coach Diego Simeone is once again expected to be without the services of centre-backs Jose Gimenez and Stefan Savic. Lucas Hernandez on standby to continue alongside Diego Godin. Of course, after the red card Fernando Torres is suspended for this game while Tiago is also unavailable after sustaining a broken leg recently. Correa is expected to play up-fron along with Griezmann and Ferreira Carrasco.
Barcelona have lost their last two in Spanish Primera Division to blow the title race
wide open. In fact, after the draw against Villarreal, the Blaugrana
lost El Clasico against Real Madrid and were unable to win at Real
Sociedad, losing 1-0. Their only win in their last four matches was
their 2-1 win over Atletico Madrid in the first-leg.
Gerard Pique is a doubt bu should be recovered in time from his hip injury while Thomas Vermaelen, Jeremy Mathieu, Aleix Vidal and Rafinha are definetely all sidelined through injury. No major changes are expected in the starting XI with the MSN trio up front and Rakitic, Busquets and Iniesta in midfield.
Atletico are actually the only team to prevent Barcelona from reaching the semi-finals of the UCL in the last eight seasons. Lionel Messi has not scored or provided an assist in four games. Not since April 2010 has the five-time world footballer of the year failed to contribute to a goal in four straight matches.
Gerard Pique is a doubt bu should be recovered in time from his hip injury while Thomas Vermaelen, Jeremy Mathieu, Aleix Vidal and Rafinha are definetely all sidelined through injury. No major changes are expected in the starting XI with the MSN trio up front and Rakitic, Busquets and Iniesta in midfield.
Atletico are actually the only team to prevent Barcelona from reaching the semi-finals of the UCL in the last eight seasons. Lionel Messi has not scored or provided an assist in four games. Not since April 2010 has the five-time world footballer of the year failed to contribute to a goal in four straight matches.
Probable lineups:
Atletico Madrid (4-3-3): Oblak – Filipe Luis, Hernandez, Godin, Juanfran – Koke, Gabi, Niguez, – Griezmann, Ferreira Carrasco, Correa.
FC Barcelona (4-3-3): Ter Stegen – Alves, Alba, Mascherano, Pique – Rakitic, Busquets, Iniesta – Messi, Suarez, Neymar.
FC Barcelona (4-3-3): Ter Stegen – Alves, Alba, Mascherano, Pique – Rakitic, Busquets, Iniesta – Messi, Suarez, Neymar.
Wednesday, April 13 2016 - 8:45 PM
Estadio Vicente Calderón,
Madrid,
Spain
Referee: N. Rizzoli
