Barcelona vs Atletico Madrid: Pedri and De Jong back, Llorente suspended

Barcelona welcomes Atletico Madrid as both teams eye domestic supremacy

Xavi Hernandez’s side hosts Diego Simeone’s squad at Camp Nou in a clash that already has the air of a must-watch classic. Barcelona sit top of La Liga, while Atletico Madrid sit nipping at the heels in third, chasing a surge to close the gap with Real Madrid and cement a strong run of results.

Followers can track the Barcelona vs Atletico Madrid match from the season’s ongoing narrative and check the live updates as the action unfolds.

Pedri and De Jong return to the fold

The major update for Barcelona is the return of Pedri Gonzalez and Frenkie de Jong, both players having been sidelined but now back in contention. They entered the fold ahead of the clash and stand a real chance of starting, depending on how the squad shapes up through training. Injury absences persist for Andreas Christensen and Sergi Roberto, while Eric Garcia could slot back into the central defense. In midfield, if Pedri or De Jong are not starters, Pablo Gavi could drop deeper to anchor the engine room, allowing Ansu Fati to feature in a more advanced role with Sergio Busquets and Franck Kessie sharing responsibilities in the middle of the park.

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Atleti face selection dilemmas without key names

Atletico Madrid arrive with notable injury and suspension concerns. Marcos Llorente is suspended after a yellow card against Almería, extending a run of cautions that keeps him from featuring in this encounter. Geoffrey Kondogbia also misses out due to a yellow card booked while serving a suspension. Memphis Depay remains sidelined with an injury, keeping him off the squad sheet. Stefan Savic returns to the defense, and Thomas Lemar could be handed a big chance to step in and connect the midfield to the strike pairing of Angel Correa and Antoine Griezmann. Simeone has additional options on the bench, including Pablo Barrios or Saul Niguez, who could push Correa forward and free up Morata for a striking role depending on the approach chosen for the match.

Both camps keep an eye on tactical adjustments and lineup experimentation, with strategic decisions potentially shaping the balance of the game as it unfolds.

News updates for Barcelona and Atletico Madrid are available through the official Goal channels as the match approaches.

Follow live updates through Goal for Barcelona and Atletico Madrid on the dedicated live feed channels, with ongoing coverage prepared to keep fans informed about team news and match pacing.

LINEUPS OF BARCELONA VS. ATLETICO MADRID

FC Barcelona (1-4-3-3): Ter Stegen; Koundé, Araujo, Eric Garcia, Balde; Kessie or Pedri, Busquets, De Jong or Ansu Fati; Raphinha, Lewandowski, Gavi

Atlético Madrid (1-3-4-1-2): Oblak; Gimenez, Savic, Hermoso; Molina, Koke, De Paul, Carrasco; Lemar; Griezmann, Angel Correa

WHEN AND WHERE IS BARCELONA VS. ATLETICO MADRID

THE CALL FOR BARCELONA VS. ATLETICO MADRID

Atletico Madrid’s lineup remains to be announced ahead of the showdown as both managers finalize their plans for the high-stakes clash.

INJURED AND CREATED FROM BARCELONA VS. ATLETICO MADRID

BARCELONA

ATLETICO MADRID

SCHEDULE AND WHERE TO SEE LIVE BARCELONA VS. ATLETICO MADRID

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Source: Goal