Barcelona host rivals Atletico Madrid in Catalonia on December 21 with the La Liga title race at its tightest point so far this season.
As Barcelona’s domestic situation begins to decline, they face the prospect of completing 2024 in second or third place, depending on the final results of this matchup.
Barcelona are only ahead of second-placed Atlético Madrid on goal difference, while Real Madrid are one point off third place as all three prepare for their final meeting in 2024.
Hansi Flick’s side have won just one of their last six league games, and Diego Simeone’s visitors won 11 consecutive games in all competitions.
LIVE BLOG: Follow minute by minute of Barcelona vs Atlético de Madrid
Barcelona will be without teenage superstar Lamine Yamal with an ankle injury, which will keep him sidelined until early 2025. Hansi Flick’s side have failed to win any of the four league games the 17-year-old has already missed in 2024/25 under Fermin Lopez. potentially replacing it in the initial XI.
Also missing is none other than the aforementioned head man himself, as Flick serves the second of a two-match suspention.
Andreas Christensen, Marc Bernal and Marc-Andre ter Stegen all remain out injured as well with the Blaugrana looking thin, something fans have become accustomed to in recent years, although they do get Ansu Fati back on the bench today while Ronaldo Araujo is also amongst the substitutes while he works back from a long-term hamstring issue.
Barcelona starting lineup (4-3-3): Pena (GK) — Kounde, Cubarsi, Martinez, Balde — Gavi, Casado, Pedri — Lopez, Lewandowski, Raphinha.
Injured: Bernal, Christensen, Ter Stegen, Lamine Yamal. Suspended: Hansi Flick (yellow accumulation).
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Diego Simeone has not confirmed any fresh injury concerns in his camp and he could stick with an unchanged team from last weekend’s 1-0 over Getafe. Only Angel Correa was expected to be absent thanks to a muscle injury, but even he is available off the bench.
Despite scoring a winning goal off the bench last time out, Alexander Sorloth can remain among the substitutes, with Julian Alvarez and Antoine Griezmann in good form up front.
Atlético de Madrid XI (4-4-2): Oblak (GK) – Llorente, Giménez, Lenglet, Galán – Simeone, De Paul, Barrios, Gallagher – Álvarez, Griezmann.
Injured: NoneSuspended: None.
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Feargal is a content creator for The Sporting News. He has worked at TSN since early 2022 after stints at Reach, Amazon UK and Squawka, a nomadic career within the football media pyramid. Always with an eye on Arteta’s “Reds” and Kenny’s Irish “Greens” and a 100% record in five-way penalties.