Level on points (38) at the top of the La Liga table, Barcelona and Atletico Madrid will lock horns in a huge game on Saturday evening, with any potential winner guaranteeing themselves first position in the division heading into 2025.
Barcelona are at the summit due to their superior goal difference, but Atletico, who have a game in hand on the division leaders, are the form team entering this contest, with Diego Simeone‘s side on an incredible 11-game winning run in all competitions.
Barcelona boast a record of 12 wins, two draws and four defeats from their 18 La Liga matches this season, with 38 points enough to top the table on goal difference, but they have played a game more than both second-placed Atletico and third-placed Real Madrid, with the latter only one point behind ahead of the next set of fixtures in Spain’s top flight. The Catalan outfit’s form earlier this season suggested that they could run away with the title this term, but they have only won one of their last six matches in the league, suffering three defeats in the process.
Not since February 2006 have Atletico managed to win an away league game against Barcelona, who are on a five-game winning run over the White and Reds, including a 1-0 success in the corresponding match last term.
Simeone’s side will enter the match in excellent form, though, having won each of their last 11 matches in all competitions, including their last six in the league against Las Palmas, Mallorca, Alaves, Real Valladolid, Sevilla and Getafe.
Barcelona will be without the services of Lamine Yamal due to an ankle problem, with the 17-year-old, who has again been in excellent form this season, set to be sidelined until the early stages of 2025.
This is such a difficult match to call; it would not be a surprise to see a home or indeed an away win on Saturday, but both managers would view a point as a solid result, and a very tight match could end with the points being shared here, opening the door for Real Madrid to finish the year at the top of the division.
Credit: sportsmole.co.uk
