PREVIEW: Atlético aim to finish off La Liga leaders Barca in Champions League quarter final
Atlético Madrid aspect take a 2-0 lead into the second leg of their Champions League quarter final with Barcelona on the Wanda Metropolitano, with Hansi Flick’s aspect needing a powerful efficiency to salvage the tie.
Their victory at the Nou Campcourtesy of a objective from Alexander Sbothrloth after an amazing free kick by Julian Álvarez, was the primary since 2006, and a 1-0 defeat or higher will guarantee a primary look in the semi-finals of the event in 9 seasons.
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After a lot was stated concerning the entrance footed assault of Barca beneath Hansi Flick, the quite a few abilities all through Barca’s squad had been duly nullified by Simeone’s group, with hopes of a victory had been dashed by a purple card proven to middle again Pau Cubarsi.
Atlético are in a reasonably poor run of kind as of late having misplaced their final three video games in the league, notably together with a 2-1 defeat to Barcelona simply earlier than their victory in the Champions League, additionally shedding to inner-city rivals Real Madrid and Sevilla final trip.
Although in typical Simeone trend, he selected to relaxation your complete beginning XI from their midweek sport.
Barca had been the almost males of final season’s Champions League, as a thriller on the San Siro noticed Inter Milan deny Flick’s males a primary Champions League final since they final received the competitors in 2015 once they overcame Juventus.
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The five-time Champions League winners will probably be hoping to make the most of their extraordinarily proficient children, amongst them the now 18-year-old Yamine Lamal, in order to put themselves again in conversations for lifting probably the most coveted trophy in membership soccer.
Barca have been in extraordinarily robust kind as of late and at the moment sit 9 factors away from Real Madrid in La Liga, having performed the identical quantity of video games. The Catalans are on monitor to retain their league title and have misplaced simply one in all their final 10 video games in the league.
Yamal has been in blistering kind in the league with 26 objective involvements in 27 appearances this season, with Barca additionally taking advantage of Manchester United loanee Marcus Rashford’s eight objectives in 10 Champions League video games.
A definitive win over Newcastle in the spherical of 16 did spotlight the goalscoring powers of Barcelona and they’re going to want to name upon that after once more to issues flip round.
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Atletico do have stars of their very own although. Álvarez has shone since leaving Manchester City, notching 9 objectives and 5 assists in 12 Champions League video games.
Although his kind has been barely worse off in the league marketing campaign, the 26-year-old stays an enormous menace going ahead for Simeone.
Atlético can nonetheless depend on veteran striker Antoine Griezmann, regardless of not being as prolific in-front of objective this season. The Frenchman has been performing nicely and is a constant menace each time he performs.
Tuesday’s fixture is the possibility for Atlético to full a big upset and go additional than they have been ready to in a decade, whereas Barca have the possibility to full a well-known comeback and cement themselves as robust contenders to elevate the trophy.
