Atletico Madrid play host to Barcelona on Saturday at Wanda Metropolitano as they seek a victory that could take them to the top of the Primera Division table.
Through the opening 12 matches of the season, the Spanish top flight is shaping up to be one of the most open in recent memory, with five teams separated by just three points heading into the weekend and Real Madrid lurking only one further back.
Diego Simeone’s side surprisingly pinched the title from the Clasico giants in 2013-14, and if they can overcome Barca at the weekend, it would fuel hopes that they might do so once again this term.
| Game | Atletico Madrid vs Barcelona |
| Date | Saturday, November 24 |
| Time | 7:45pm GMT/2:45pm ET |
TV Channel, Live Stream & How To Watch
In the United States (US), the game can be watched live and on-demand with fuboTV (7-day free trial) .
New users can sign up for a free seven-day trial of the live sports streaming service, which can be accessed via iOS, Android, Chromecast, Amazon Fire TV, Roku and Apple TV as well as on a web browser.
| US TV channel | Online stream |
|---|---|
| beIN Sports | fubo TV (7-day free trial) |
In the United Kingdom (UK), the game can be streamed online via Eleven Sports but is not available on TV.
| UK TV channel | Online stream |
|---|---|
| N/A | Eleven Sports |
Squads & Team News
| Position | Atletico Madrid players |
|---|---|
| Goalkeepers | Oblak, Adan |
| Defenders | Godin, Luis, Arias, Savic, Juanfran, Hernandez, Vitolo, Gimenez, Solano, Munoz |
| Midfielders | Thomas, Koke, Niguez, Correa, Lemar, Rodri |
| Forwards | Griezmann, Kalinic, Costa, Garces |
Atletico Madrid starting XI: Oblak; Arias, Savic, Hernandez, Filipe Luis; Koke, Saul, Rodri, Lemar; Griezmann, Diego Costa.
| Position | Barcelona squad |
|---|---|
| Goalkeepers | Ter Stegen, Cillessen, Ezkieta |
| Defenders | Pique, Semedo, Lenglet, Alba, Chumi, Umtiti, Vermaelen |
| Midfielders | Rakitic, Busquets, Coutinho, Arthur, Rafinha, Roberto, Vidal, D. Suarez, Samper, Alena |
| Forwards | L. Suarez, Dembele, Malcom, Munir, Messi |
Barcelona starting XI: Ter Stegen; Sergi Roberto, Pique, Umtiti, Alba; Sergi Roberto, Vidal, Busquets, Arthur; Messi, Suarez.
Betting & Match Odds
Atletico Madrid are underdogs, according to, bet365, who offer odds of 2/1 on them winning. Barcelona can be backed at a price of 11/8, while a draw is 23/10.
Match Preview
Getty Images
Barcelona may sit at the top of La Liga, but not everything is necessarily well at Camp Nou, where there are stirrings of unrest in the squad.
Arturo Vidal has made it perfectly clear that he expects to start every match, while fellow summer arrival Malcom is another to have made it plain that he wants more time on the pitch. Denis Suarez is another who is discontent, while Rafinha’s father and agent described the situation his son currently faces at the club as “crazy”.
And while this group complain about their lots, there is the ongoing case of Ousmane Dembele, whose muddled off-field problems have doubtless contributed to the issues that he has found replicating his best form for the Blaugrana.
While the 4-3 home defeat against in-form Betis prior to the international break was not necessarily a manifestation of these issues, there is little doubt that Valverde’s men have struggled to reach their peak form since smashing Real Madrid 5-1 a month ago.
They have struggled past Cultural Leonesa in the Copa del Rey and sneaked a fortunate victory against Rayo Vallecano in La Liga, while they were held 1-1 by Inter in the Champions League.
Atletico are a step up from these opponents and remain as hard-nosed as ever under Diego Simeone. Wins have not come as easily as they might have wished this term – they have six from 12 league matches – but they have only suffered one defeat and have the strongest defensive record in the league.
With weakness in Barca evident, this is the type of situation that Simeone’s sides normally thrive upon, and if they are to make a serious push for the title again this season, victory over the Catalans would be a wonderful starting point.
