'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Barcelona and Atletico Madrid lock horns in one of the most important La Liga matches of the season this weekend at the Camp Nou on Saturday. Both teams have been impressive in recent months and have a point to prove going into this game.
Atletico Madrid have punched above their weight this season and are on course to win the La Liga crown. Diego Simeone's side does have a few chinks in their armour and will need to step up to the plate against a strong Blaugrana outfit.
Barcelona and Atletico Madrid lock horns in potential La Liga title decider
Barcelona have improved under Ronald Koeman but have been severely prone to frequent defensive meltdowns this season. The Catalan giants have sharpened their attacking prowess but will need to work hard to break down a resilient Atletico Madrid side.
The reverse fixture between the two La Liga teams took place last year and ended in a narrow 1-0 victory for Atletico Madrid. Barcelona have improved over the past few months and should be able to give their opponents more of a fight in this fixture. Here are five key battles that could potentially decide the outcome of this weekend's high-profile La Liga match.
#5 Yannick Carrasco vs Sergi Roberto
Yannick Carrasco is one of the most understated members in what has now become a star-studded Atletico Madrid attack. The Belgian winger is lethal at his best and has managed an impressive five goals and eight assists in La Liga this season.
Carrasco put in an exceptional shift against Barcelona last year and humiliated Ter Stegen with a nutmeg before curling the ball into an empty net from a distance to score the winner. The Atletico Madrid forward has a penchant for the big stage and will want to replicate his heroics this weekend.
With Sergino Dest a doubt for this match, experienced Barcelona right-back Sergi Roberto is set to feature against Atletico Madrid. Roberto has had his problems in high-profile fixtures in the past and has a point to prove against a fiery and in-form Yannick Carrasco.
#4 Antoine Griezmann vs Stefan Savic
Luis Suarez's return to the Camp Nou has largely dominated the discourse surrounding this game and for good reason. The game also carries a special relevance to Antoine Griezmann, however, and the in-form Frenchman will be intent on doing his best against the team that gave him his reputation.
Griezmann endured a difficult start to life in Barcelona but seems to have found his feet in the Catalan city. The striker has been crucial to Barcelona's fortunes this season and has won matches with his goals and assists.
Stefan Savic has exceeded expectations for Atletico Madrid this season and has shared the pitch with Antoine Griezmann on several occasions. The two former teammates have been impressive in recent weeks and will want to get one over each other on Saturday.
Also Read: Manchester City vs Chelsea prediction, preview, team news and more | Premier League 2020-21
#3 Frenkie de Jong vs Marcos Llorente
Barcelona and Atletico Madrid have seen a discernible uptick in fortunes this year and a huge chunk of the credit must fall to their talented midfield enforcers. While Marcos Llorente has turned over a new leaf in his La Liga career this season, Frenkie de Jong seems to have ascended to an elite league of prodigious ball-carrying maestros.
The Dutchman has been exceptional under Ronald Koeman this season and his versatility has been a hallmark of Barcelona's new-look side. De Jong's intelligence, poise, and dribbling prowess make him one of the most well-rounded players in the world and his defensive contributions and goal tallies are a testament to his extraordinary learning curve this season.
Frenkie de Jong will be up against one of Atletico Madrid's most improved players this season on Saturday. With 12 goals and 10 assists this season, Marcos Llorente has been a revelation for Atletico Madrid but will have his work cut out for him against Barcelona's Frenkie de Jong.
#2 Luis Suarez vs Gerard Pique
Barcelona have made several questionable transfer decisions over the years, particularly under their previous administration. The most ill-advised of these missteps, however, was the decision to sell Luis Suarez to direct La Liga rivals Atletico Madrid.
The Uruguayan striker has scored a sensational 19 league goals for Atletico Madrid this season and his poaching skills are the ideal match for Diego Simeone's pragmatic approach to the game. Suarez will return to the Camp Nou for the first time since his transfer and will be intent on making his former teammates suffer this weekend.
Barcelona veteran Gerard Pique will be tasked with keeping Luis Suarez quiet on Saturday. The Catalan centre-back will be fully aware of the havoc Suarez can wreak in the penalty area and cannot afford to put a foot wrong this weekend.
#1 Lionel Messi vs Jose Gimenez
Lionel Messi has been the pinnacle of La Liga's legacy for well over a decade and his exploits this season have been the primary driving force behind Barcelona's title bid. The Argentine talisman endured a difficult start to the season but has now managed an astonishing 28 goals and nine assists in only 30 league appearances.
Atletico Madrid's Jose Gimenez has faced Lionel Messi on several occasions in the past and has handled him with varying degrees of success. The talented Uruguayan centre-back has endured an injury-ravaged campaign but his return to form has come at the right time for Diego Simeone.
Lionel Messi is perfectly capable of decimating the best defenders in the world and Atletico Madrid will have to be wary of the Argentine's prowess. Jose Gimenez has his own unique methods on the pitch and will want to be a thorn in Lionel Messi's side on Saturday.
Also Read: Barcelona vs Atletico Madrid prediction, preview, team news and more | La Liga 2020-21
