Barcelona vs Atletico Madrid Preview

This is one of the biggest matches in Europe this season as Barcelona seek to expand their gap at the top of the league table while Atletico Madrid look to cut down their points lead at the top.

These sides have made themselves the two strongest sides in La Liga this season and just 8 points separates them from one another.

Barcelona will be looking for all three points as that would send them 11 points clear at the top with just 7 games left to play, while Atletico Madrid will be looking for a win that would help cut the gap at the top to 5 and also extend the gap between themselves and rivals Real Madrid.

These sides have been in decent form recently and Atletico should feel that they have to give their all in the league as they have nothing else to play for.

Barcelona on the other hand, want to win the treble of league, cup, and Champions League so they may have over-committed themselves and Atletico will be looking to find some loopholes that they can exploit.

Atletico come here off the back of a two games winning run, while Barcelona needed two late goals to pick up a point against relegation-threatened Villarreal.

Lionel Messi was rested in the game against Villarreal and was only introduced in the second half so this game could be the reason why he was rested and it is expected that he will start.

Barcelona are currently trading as slight odds-on favourites to come out on top in this and all but seal up the La Liga title.  Atletico will start this game as outsiders however they will certainly have support given how Barcelona struggled against Villarreal last time out.

Goal markets are expecting few goals in this game as under 2.5 goals is currently trading odds-on while Lionel Messi is clear favourite to score the opening goal of the game followed by Luis Suarez and Kevin-Prince Boateng.

This game gets underway at 19:45 BST.

Other fixtures taking place this week in the Spanish Primera:

Spanish Primera Table

Spanish Primera Results