Barcelona vs Atletico Madrid: 5 key battles to watch out for | La Liga 2020-21

#3 Frenkie de Jong vs Marcos Llorente

Frenkie de Jong is a key player for Barcelona

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.

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#2 Luis Suarez vs Gerard Pique

Suarez has been exceptional for Atletico Madrid

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.

First teammates. Then opponents. Always friends. @LuisSuarez9 pic.twitter.com/S3AuiEjR0E

— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) May 7, 2021

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.

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#1 Lionel Messi vs Jose Gimenez

Lionel Messi has enjoyed another prolific season

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.

Leo Messi and Luis Suarez always had that special connection ✨(🎥 via @FCBarcelona)pic.twitter.com/10Jb7ptqAW

— B/R Football (@brfootball) May 7, 2021

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.

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