LaLiga 2022-23: Atletico Madrid vs Barcelona: Predicted lineup, injury news, and head-to-head

Atletico Madrid will face Barcelona in a crucial match On Sunday night.

Atletico Madrid will face a difficult assignment when they host Barcelona. Simeone's team has been middling this season and has stayed hesitant in the majority of games. They also tumbled out of the Champions League in an unflattering manner, however, it appears that they have regained their impetus and will be trying to stay in fourth place as a challenge for the LaLiga crown appears iffy.

While Barcelona looked like a shadow of themselves in their 1-1 draw against Espanyol, which was a mirror reflection of the Netherlands vs Argentina, as referee Mateu Lahoz was throwing cards like confetti, Barcelona had multiple opportunities but missed all of them, and are now level on points with Real Madrid at the top of the table.

Kick-off: 1:30 am (IST), 8 pm (GMT)

Atletico Madrid form (all competition): D-W-L-D-L-W

Barcelona form (all competition): W-W-W-W-D-W

Players to watch

Atletico Madrid

Griezmann

Griezmann had a fantastic World Cup despite playing in an unfamiliar position, and Simeone will certainly be able to squeeze the most out of him. He scored in the last league game, and will hopefully be able to replicate his World Cup brilliance at Atletico Madrid for the rest of the season.

Barcelona

Pedri

He has already been identified as Iniesta's heir, and despite his age, he has demonstrated exceptional game experience. Pedri has excellent ball intelligence and positioning, and he remains an important Barcelona midfielder who will build a reputation for himself at the club.

Match facts

• Following their 3-1 setback to Real Madrid in October, if Barcelona loses against Atletico Madrid, it will be the third time in the 21st century that Barcelona has lost away games to Madrid teams, with the other two happening after the 2007/08 and 2020/21 seasons.

• Griezmann has contributed to 10 Barcelona goals (5 goals and 5 assists), three greater than the previous season.

• Lewandowski has not scored in the previous three league games, and if he does so in the following four, it will be the first time since 2016.

Injury and team news

Atletico Madrid will be able to add Stefan Savic ahead of this game since he has trained, but Sergio Reguilon and Mario Hermoso are both injured and are questionable. Joao Felix is also sceptical since he is said to be leaving the Spanish giants.

Barcelona will be without their leading scorer, Robert Lewandowski, who is banned for the game, as well as Sergio Roberto and Jordi Alba, while the rest of the squad is available.

Head-to-head stats

Matches: 238

Atletico Madrid: 76

Draws: 56

Barcelona: 106

Predicted lineup

Atletico Madrid (5-3-2): Oblak; Savic, Witsel, Gimenez, Llorente, Kondogbia, Barrios, Koke, Carrasco, Griezmann, Morata.

Barcelona (4-3-3): Ter Stegen; Kounde, Araujo, Christensen, Balde, Pedri, Frenkie de Jong, Gavi, Dembele, F. Torres, Fati.

Prediction

Xavi will have to find a substitute for Robert Lewandowski, the club's primary contributor of goals. However, their overall performance has been monotonous, and they crumble when the pressure is increased. Atletico Madrid is progressively regaining shape and is driven to defeat Barcelona, therefore we may see Atletico Madrid edge out Barcelona in this encounter.

Prediction: Atletico Madrid 1-0 Barcelona