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Played
December 16, 2012 8:00 PM GMT
Camp Nou — Barcelona
Referee: Miguel Pérez
Attendance: 86637
December 16, 2012 8:00 PM GMT
Camp Nou — Barcelona
Referee: Miguel Pérez
Attendance: 86637
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| Barcelona | 1.30 | 1.00 | 1.30 | 0.00 | 1.00 | 1.32 | 1.10 | 1.01 | 1.33 |
| Draw | 5.50 | 34.00 | 5.50 | 0.00 | 51.00 | 5.50 | 7.50 | 21.00 | 5.44 |
| Atl. Madrid | 8.50 | 34.00 | 9.00 | 0.00 | 351.00 | 8.00 | 25.00 | 62.00 | 8.51 |
Barcelona - Atletico Madrid Preview: Top of the table clash awaits as Diego Simeone's men travel to Camp Nou
The Blaugrana will look to extend their unbeaten run in La Liga with another victory, but face tough opposition as Radamel Falcao and Co. visit Catalunya on Sunday
By Martin Macdonald
Getty
| PROBABLE LINE-UPS |
|
BARCELONA  Valdes Montoya, Pique, Puyol, Alba Xavi, Busquets, Iniesta Pedro, Messi, Villa |
ATLETICO MADRID 
Courtois
Juanfran, Miranda, Godin, Filipe
Suarez, Gabi Koke, Arda, Costa Falcao |
Barcelona will be without influential midfielder Cesc Fabregas for the visit of Atletico Madrid in La Liga on Sunday evening. The Spain international is currently sidelined with a thigh injury he picked up in the win over Betis last weekend. This will likely result in Andres Iniesta moving from his position on the left to a deeper role in midfield.
With Iniesta retreating back, David Villa may be given a start in the attacking trio alongside Lionel Messi and Pedro.
Tito Vilanova's men have been boosted by the return of Dani Alves to training after his injury. However, it is unlikely the Brazilian will be risked as he is not match-fit. Martin Montoya will likely feature at right-back.
Atletico Madrid will welcome back defender Miranda into the starting XI for this weekend's match as the Brazilian served his one-match suspension. Cristian Rodriguez is still recovering from a thigh injury and is unlikely to feature.
| DID YOU KNOW? |
This week, Lionel Messi shattered another record. The Argentine is currently sitting at 88 goals for the calendar year, breaking the record of 85 previously held by Gerd Muller.
- Messi and Radamel Falcao are currently the top two goalscorers in the Spanish Premier Division.
- Barcelona are currently enjoying their best ever start to a La Liga season. The Catalans have won 14 out of their opening 15 games, and drawn the other.
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Atletico Madrid will move within three points of the Catalan side in the league with a victory at Camp Nou.
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Falcao became the first player in over a decade to score five goals in a single La Liga game with his tally against Deportivo last week.
- Los Colchoneros have only lost twice in the league so far. They were defeated in November by Valencia and also lost the Madrid derby against their arch-rivals.
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Field Report
Reader's Predictions
Top 3 Predictions
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FC Barcelona 3-1 Atletico Madrid
- 21.65 %
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FC Barcelona 3-0 Atletico Madrid
- 7.84 %
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FC Barcelona 2-1 Atletico Madrid
- 7.76 %
| Spain - Primera Division (LIGA) | May 12, 2013 | Atletico Madrid 1 - FC Barcelona 2 |
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| Spain - Primera Division (LIGA) | Dec 16, 2012 | FC Barcelona 4 - Atletico Madrid 1 |
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| Spain - Primera Division (LIGA) | Feb 26, 2012 | Atletico Madrid 1 - FC Barcelona 2 |
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| Spain - Primera Division (LIGA) | Sep 24, 2011 | FC Barcelona 5 - Atletico Madrid 0 |
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| Spain - Primera Division (LIGA) | Feb 5, 2011 | FC Barcelona 3 - Atletico Madrid 0 |
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FC Barcelona
    |
||
| May 19, 2013 | FC Barcelona 2 - Valladolid 1 | LIGA |
| May 12, 2013 | Atletico Madrid 1 - FC Barcelona 2 | LIGA |
| May 5, 2013 | FC Barcelona 4 - Betis 2 | LIGA |
| May 1, 2013 | FC Barcelona 0 - FC Bayern München 3 | UCL |
| Apr 27, 2013 | Athletic Bilbao 2 - FC Barcelona 2 | LIGA |
Atletico Madrid
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| May 17, 2013 | Real Madrid CF 1 - Atletico Madrid 2 | ESPC |
| May 12, 2013 | Atletico Madrid 1 - FC Barcelona 2 | LIGA |
| May 8, 2013 | Celta 1 - Atletico Madrid 3 | LIGA |
| May 4, 2013 | Deportivo 0 - Atletico Madrid 0 | LIGA |
| Apr 27, 2013 | Atletico Madrid 1 - Real Madrid CF 2 | LIGA |
| Returns: | Barcelona £13.00 |
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Sign up to Paddy Power for £250 in free bets | |
| Returns: | Draw £510.00 |
|
Sign up with bet365 for a free bet up to £200 | |
| Returns: | Atl. Madrid £3510.00 |
|
Sign up with bet365 for a free bet up to £200 |
| 1 | Víctor Valdés | Goalkeeper |
| 3 | Piqué | Defender |
| 5 | Carles Puyol | Defender |
| 18 | Jordi Alba | Defender |
| 21 | Adriano | Defender |
| 6 | Xavi | Midfielder |
| 8 | Andrés Iniesta Luján | Midfielder |
| 16 | Busquets | Midfielder |
| 9 | Alexis Sánchez | Striker |
| 10 | Lionel Messi | Striker |
| 17 | Pedro | Striker |
| 13 | José Pinto Colorado | Goalkeeper |
| 2 | Daniel Alves | Defender |
| 11 | Thiago Alcántara | Midfielder |
| 14 | Javier Mascherano | Midfielder |
| 25 | Alex Song | Midfielder |
| 7 | David Villa | Striker |
| 37 | Tello | Striker |
| 13 | Thibaut Courtois | Goalkeeper |
| 2 | Diego Godín Leal | Defender |
| 6 | Filipe Luis | Defender |
| 20 | Juanfran | Midfielder |
| 23 | Miranda | Defender |
| 4 | Mario Suárez | Midfielder |
| 19 | Koke | Midfielder |
| 11 | Arda Turan | Midfielder |
| 14 | Gabi | Midfielder |
| 9 | Radamel Falcao | Striker |
| 24 | Diego Costa | Striker |
| 25 | Sergio Asenjo | Goalkeeper |
| 2 | Cata Díaz | Defender |
| 28 | Javi Manquillo | Defender |
| 5 | Tiago | Midfielder |
| 8 | Raúl García | Midfielder |
| 25 | Emre Belözoğlu | Midfielder |
| 7 | Adrián | Striker |
| Lionel Messi | |
| Position: | Striker |
| Squad Number: | 10 |
| Games | Goals | YC | RC |
|---|---|---|---|
| 32 | 46 | 1 | 0 |
The Argentine continues to break records, with his latest being the amount of goals scored in a calendar year. He has a nifty habit of scoring braces in matches recently, and it would take a brave man to bet against him doing this against los Colchoneros. Atletico simply must keep him at bay if they are to have a chance of winning.
| Radamel Falcao | |
| Position: | Striker |
| Squad Number: | 9 |
| Games | Goals | YC | RC |
|---|---|---|---|
| 33 | 28 | 7 | 0 |
Falcao's stock continues to rise in Europe, especially since his magnificent five-goal tally against Deportivo last weekend. The Colombian's name is now being heard in the same breathe as Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, but he will need to put in a performance against the Catalans to give his side a chance of a victory.
The two sides at the summit of the Spanish Primera Division clash on Sunday and the one thing that is guaranteed is goals. Atletico Madrid put in a damp squib of a performance against Real Madrid so they will be very eager to prove they can compete against members of the Clasico. It may indeed be the Messi and Falcao's show, but the Catalan side have been imperious at home, so expect them to narrowly win.
Results
Times In GMT
Live
Final
scheduled
Suspended
Cancelled
Postponed
Match News
Top Scorers
| Player | Goals | Penalties | |
|---|---|---|---|
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Lionel Messi Striker Barcelona |
46 | 4 |
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Cristiano Ronaldo Striker Real Madrid |
34 | 6 |
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Radamel Falcao Striker Atl. Madrid |
28 | 8 |
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Roberto Soldado Striker Valencia |
21 | 5 |
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Negredo Striker Sevilla |
20 | 3 |
