Barcelona vs Atletico Madrid: Areas where the game could be decided

The title race has taken centre stage in La Liga at the moment with Atletico Madrid breathing down the neck of Barcelona. Just five points separate the two sides which makes tonight's clash between the two a pivotal point in the season.

A win for Barcelona will give them a nice little cushion at the top but any slip up against an in-form Atletico side could make matters a lot tighter. With everything on the line, expect this game to be one of the feistiest and the most thrilling to be witnessed this calendar year.

In this segment, we will take a look at the how the game could be decided:

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#5 Luis Suarez vs Diego Godin - Attack vs defence

Godin will have to keep his compatriot in check

The battle of the two Uruguayans is set to be an exciting one! Diego Godin has played with Luis Suarez for years for the national team and will know how the striker operates, thinks and moves around the box. But El Pistolero also has an idea about the strengths and weaknesses of the experienced defender.

Despite struggling for form at the start of the campaign, Suarez has amassed 20 league goals until now. His composure in front of the goal and most importantly, his almost telepathic bond with Lionel Messi has made Barcelona's attack lethal this season.

But Godin has also been in tremendous form and is the focal point of Spain's meanest defence. He has the physicality to hold off against any striker and has the presence to assert himself in the game. This can also be said about Luis Suarez as a striker which makes this duel a one to look forward to.

#4 Andres Iniesta vs Koke - The midfield battle

Koke will battle against Iniesta to be the most influential midfielder on the field

Despite the arrival of Philippe Coutinho, Ernesto Valverde has entrusted Andres Iniesta to start the majority of the games. The midfield maestro has been in good form of late and has been dictating the play like he normally does.

Doing the same for the Colchoneros, Koke has been extremely crucial to Atletico Madrid's cause this season. He has been the link between the defence and attack for Atletico and is one of the players that can hurt Barcelona.

This midfield battle will be an interesting one with both the players looking to carve out openings for their sides from the centre of the park. Both these players cannot afford to have an off day in this crucial fixture and will have one eye on being the most creative midfielder on the field.

#3 Samuel Umtiti vs Antoine Griezmann - Attack vs defence

Griezmann has scored seven in his last two matches

Alongside Gerard Pique, Samuel Umtiti has formed a solid defensive partnership and is currently having his best season since moving to Spain. He averages 2 tackles and 2 interceptions every 90 minutes this season and has been one of the standout performers for the Catalans this campaign.

The Frenchman will be up against his compatriot and Atletico Madrid's talisman Antoine Griezmann. On current form, Griezmann is probably the most in-form player in La Liga. Scoring seven in his last two games, Griezmann has changed his season from a quiet start to having an explosive end.

With back to back hat-tricks, Griezmann is now on 15 goals and many have touted this clash as the final audition for the striker to get his move to Camp Nou in the summer. Umtiti will have to be alert against Griezmann and have to counter his pace. The defender will have to be positionally perfect on the night to nullify the threat of the ever-dangerous Griezmann.

#2 Sergio Busquets vs Saul Niguez - The midfield battle

The human interpretation of a Rolls Royce

Big games are won and lost in midfield. Barcelona rely heavily on Sergio Busquets to set the tempo of their play and creating space in the channels for the forwards to target. Busquets is the best in the world at what he does and has been in sensational form this season.

Atletico Madrid will have to press and negate the time and space afforded to the Spaniard if they are going to have any chance in this game. The player that will be assigned the job of tracking Busquets will be Saul Niguez. He is the midfield engine for the capital side with his off the ball work being crucial in Atletico's cause.

Saul will have to be on his toes against Busquets and will be needed to give his opponent as less time on the ball as possible. Meanwhile, the holding midfielder for Barcelona has been immense in the big matches this season and will look to continue his dominating displays.

#1 Lionel Messi vs Jose Gimenez - Attack vs defence

Jose Gimenez will have the most difficult job on the planet tonight: to keep Messi silent

The Catalans have opted to play in a 4-4-2 formation quite often this season with Messi and Suarez up top. For the league leaders, the Uruguayan decides to drift in and around the central defenders whereas Messi often drops deep to have more possession on the ball basically, having a free roaming role.

As in the previous encounters, Atletico Madrid will try and man-mark the genius with Jose Gimenez being the man most equipped to take up the mantle. He has been in fine form for the past two months and has formed a dependable partnership with Godin at the back.

Atletico have conceded just 11 in the league this season with Gimenez at the forefront as Messi will have his task cut out on the night. But the Colchoneros are his second favourite side (scoring wise) and has scored 27 goals against them in all competitions.

Gimenez will need to have his best game of the season if he has to stop the Argentine who is currently operating at a sky-high level. With 23 league goals to his name, Messi will look to confirm the league title to Barcelona tonight with a win whereas it will be Gimenez who will look to keep Messi quiet and help Atletico Madrid do a repeat of the title-winning 2014 season.