Atletico Madrid vs Barcelona - 5 players to watch out for | La Liga 2020-21

Unbeaten Atletico Madrid host struggling Barcelona in an enticing La Liga clash this weekend.
Unbeaten Atletico Madrid host struggling Barcelona in an enticing La Liga clash this weekend.

#3 Antoine Griezmann (Barcelona)

Antoine Griezmann will look to score for the third La Liga game in a row.
Antoine Griezmann will look to score for the third La Liga game in a row.

Antonio Griezmann's struggles at Barcelona are apparently showing no signs of abating. The Frenchman has continued to be well below his best for Barcelona, a year on from his gargantuan €120 million transfer from Atletico Madrid.

However, Griezmann has reason for optimism ahead of his return to the Wanda Metropolitano. He has scored in his last two La Liga games this season and would look forward to scoring a league goal against Atletico Madrid for the first time in 11 games.

There might be no better place to continue his new-found momentum than at his old stomping ground. Griezmann, who was on target against his former colleagues in the Super Cup clash this January, will be hoping to get another one against them this weekend.

However, Griezmann will have his task cut out, given Atletico Madrid's formidable recent defensive record; the Rojiblancos have conceded only twice this season, the fewest by any side in the division.


#2 Joao Felix (Atletico Madrid)

Joao Felix has started to justify his hefty price tag this season.
Joao Felix has started to justify his hefty price tag this season.

Big-money moves don't always come to fruition immediately. In some cases, the player needs time to find his feet in his new surroundings. That has precisely been the case with Joao Felix at Atletico Madrid.

After arriving from Portuguese side Benfica last year on a €126 million transfer, Atletico Madrid's most expensive acquisition and the fourth-most expensive transfer of all time, the 21-year-old didn't quite hit the ground running at the Wanda Metropolitano.

A return of just nine goals from 36 appearances last season left a lot to be desired, but Felix is gradually finding his stride this season, thanks in part to the arrival of Luis Suarez.

With seven goals and three assists in ten games in all competitions this season, Felix is finally starting to justify his hefty price tag and enormous talent. He comes into the Barcelona game on the back of consecutive braces against Osasuna and Cadiz. Felix will fancy his chances of scoring against Barcelona, who haven't been at their best this season.

In the absence of the veteran Uruguayan Suarez, Felix is most likely to start up front as the striker. If that happens, Barcelona's centre-back duo of Gerard Pique and Clement Lenglet will have their hands full.

Barcelona's defence has looked suspect this season; they have conceded eight goals from their opening seven La Liga games. They'll have to muster every ounce of their defensive nous to keep Atletico Madrid and the in-form Felix quiet.


#1 Lionel Messi (Barcelona)

Lionel Messi has scored in nine of his last 12 league games against Atletico Madrid.
Lionel Messi has scored in nine of his last 12 league games against Atletico Madrid.

Barcelona captain Lionel Messi has come under fire this season for struggling to score goals from open play, with five of his six strikes in all competitions coming from the penalty spot.

The Argentine ace got the monkey off his back with a superb individual goal against Real Betis in Barcelona's 5-2 thumping right before the international break. He will hope to continue in the same vein against Atletico Madrid.

The Rojiblancos have been one of Messi's favourite punching bags over the years; Messi has scored 32 times against Atletico Madrid in his career, the most he's ever scored against any opponent except Sevilla (37).

There's something about Atletico Madrid that spurs Messi on every time. Even if he doesn't score from open play on Saturday, his playmaking skills could help him conjure opportunities aplenty for his Barcelona colleagues.

Messi has been dropping really deep in recent times, trying to win back possession and pushing his side forward with incisive passes and through balls. If Koke or Saul Niguez don't keep him in check, which would be no mean feat to begin with, the 33-year-old could wreak havoc against Atletico Madrid yet again.

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