Barcelona - Atlético Madrid live online: lineups, score, stats & updates | LaLiga EA Sports

Pre-game quotes from the managers:

A reminder of how the table looks:

If you've just joined us, welcome along to the live build-up of Barcelona vs Atlético Madrid!

Girona and Real Madrid continued their stellar run of form and as a result both Barcelona and Atlético Madrid are lagging slightly behind. The two teams in action tonight are level on 31 points, seven behind the top two.

AtléticoMadrid have a game or two in hand, something which. gives them slightly more wriggle room ahead of Barcelona, who have a rampaging Athletic Club clinging onto their trouser leg.

Is Xavi under pressure?

The Barcelona coach certainly has been, with results for the blaugrana wobblier than a brown bear on a unicycle. Slim wins have been keeping Xavi’s side alive and plenty of times this season they have had to pull off dramatic comebacks in order to throw points on the board that keep them stuck in and around the Champions League places.

Since the win against Porto during the week, a result that saw Barça qualify for the Champions League Round of 16, the pressure has visibly lifted from Xavi’s shoulders.

But their run of games leading up to Christmas looks to have been made by the clown masked individual from the SAW films: it’s a pure exercise in stress and torture, starting with Los Rojiblancos tonight.

LaLiga deadliest duo?

Griezmann and Morata have combined to score 25 goals so far this season, with the Frenchman on 13 and the Spaniard on 12.

Are they LaLiga's deadliest duo?

In terms of numbers, yes. While players such as Bellingham and [choose any Real Sociedad midfielder] might have a shout at getting on the podium for best player so far this season, when it comes to a frightening striking partnership, nobody comes close to the Morata-Griezmann duo.

Simeone's XI announced!

Oblak starts in goal.

Hermoso, Witsel and Josema Giménez are at the back, with Molina and Roro Riquelme on the wings.

Koke, Llorente and De Paul make up the midfield trio; Morata and Grizi are the duo up top.

Barcelona XI revealed!

IñakiPeña starts again. 

Araujo, Kounde, Iñigo and Cancelo make up the back four. 

Gundogan, DeJong and Pedri are in midfield.

JoãoFélix, Lewandowski and Raphinha start up front.

Club swapping from João and Grizi:

Today’s Game has a special flavour of two couples splitting up, only to start going out with the other’s now ex-partner.

João is wearing blue and red while Griezmann is thriving in red and white, and they’ve both been putting up sassy FaceBook posts about how great it is to be with their new beau.

Well, whatever the Footballer equivalent of that is… 

LALIGA

Possible Barcelona starting XI against Atlético Madrid in LaLiga

While we wait on the team news from the coaches, here's what we think will be the Barcelona starting XI for the tie in LaLiga EA Sports. 

If you want a hint, then Xavi’s eleven looks set to be the same one that beat Porto in the Champions League in midweek.

The away dressing room is ready!

The away side are in their home shirt for the clash, the change in the kit coming lower down, with the red shorts and socks.

I can confirm that the dressing room is not as narrow as the photos show...

Xavi Hernández pre-game:

Atlético to dodge the Camp Nou curse...

Barcelona have not lost at Camp Nou against Atlético since 2006, when Deco, Iniesta, Messi, Ronaldinho and Eto’o made up the blaugrana squad.

As for Atlético, their star was a certain Señor FernandoTorres, who had Maxi Rodríguez and Martin Petrov for company. 

A total of 20 games and 17 years have passed since Los Rojiblancos last tasted victory at Barcelona’s famous stadium, but thankfully they have the chance to swerve away from that cursed ground.

The game today, as you are probably aware, is at Montjuïc, not the Camp Nou, which is undergoing renovation.

As such, Atleti can avoid the historical baggage of not having won at Camp Nou since the first decade of the century.

It might seem trivial, but players are fully aware of such statistics and every little helps when it comes to having a clear mind on the pitch.

The blaugrana arrive at the stadium!

Xavi and his squad arrive at Montjuïc ahead of kick-off as the fans gather outside... the atmosphere is bubbling already!

How the top two are doing...

As mentioned, those pesky two at the top can’t stop winning, and Girona showed their mettle yesterday in a tough tie against Valencia, in which alate Cristhian Stuani brace in the final 10 minutes made sure that the Catalans finished the match day right at the top of the tree. 

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Real Madrid overcame Granada at the Santiago Bernabéu in what was a simple showing of just how much class they have throughout their squad.

Injuries have hit the 14-time European champions hard this season but they managed to sweep aside their Andalucian opponents easily enough thanks to goals from Brahim and Rodrygo.

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

Santiago Giménez scores Champions League own goal as Atlético Madrid eliminate Feyenoord

Atlético Madrid, just as Barcelona, come into this game off the back of a strong win in the UEFA Champions League. 

They took on Feyenoord in the Netherlands, and went home with a 1-3 win, topped off with an own goal from Mexican forward, Santiago Giménez.

Atleti are through to the next round thanks to the win against their Dutch opponents and their solid defence will no doubt have gained confidence ahead of their crunch game vs Barcelona.

How the table looks:

Girona and Real Madrid can’t stop winning and their fantastic run of form has left both Barcelona and Atlético Madrid trailing slightly behind. The two teams in action tonight are level on 31 points, seven behind the duo at the top.

It must be said that Atlético Madrid do have a Game or two in hand, and only a slip-up against Las Palmas cut their winning run in half throughout the month of November. 

Athletic Club breezed past Rayo Vallecano at San Mamés yesterday in a Game that keeps them 3 points behind Barça and Atleti, upping the pressure to win today at Montjuïc.

Here's how the stadium looks pre-game...

With the sun setting, we're in for a beautiful visual spectacle as well as a great game!

Team news: Atlético Madrid

Diego Simeone has to contend with the recent injury to youngster Pablo Barrios, who underwent surgery on a meniscus injury in his knee, and will be out from anywhere between 6 weeks and three months.

The only other addition in Simeone’s injury room is Thomas Lemar. The Frenchman, who is now training back on the pitch, suffered an achilles injury in the game against Valencia back in September. 

Team news: Barcelona

Xavi still has his injury list scribbled on a notepad in his pocket that he is forced to look at, and he surely won’t be happy to see the name of Marc-Andre Ter Stegen on there.

It’s gone on for just too long now to not become a worry, but the German is still out with a back issue that forced him home early from international duty.

Iñaki Peña, who had a decent game against Porto in midweek, will be between the sticks at kick-off.

As well as the German shot-stopper, Gavi is the next big name on the list that is written in permanent ink for the season. The midfielder suffered an ACL tear and is out until the summer, with even his Euro 2024 campaign at risk.

Marcos Alonso is a new addition to the list and did not train ahead of the game against Atleti, with Balde thought to be coming in to replace him in a starting XI that will look very similar to the one that overcame Porto in the Champions League as Barcelona sealed their passage to the next round. 

Live blog up and running!

Hello hello and a big, warm welcome to the east coast of Spain, where up the hill at Montjuïc we’ve got one of the biggest games of the season! 

Barcelona take on Atlético Madrid in what is, without a doubt, one of Spain’s most exciting and intriguing games of the league season!

It’s Joe here today to guide you through the action as it unfolds.