FC Barcelona will take on Atletico Madrid in La Liga at the Metropolitano on Sunday.
FC Barcelona head coach Hansi Flick will make just one change to his team, when it faces Atletico Madrid in a tasty La Liga clash at the Metropolitano on Sunday night.
The Catalans come into the tie three points behind leader Real Madrid but with two games in hand on its bitter rival.
In two attempts this season, Flick’s men have been unable to beat Atleti at home.
Their first meeting was a 2-1 comeback win for the visitors in Montjuic, while last month, in a Copa del Rey semifinal first leg, Atleti went 2-0 up early only for Barca to lead 4-2 but then squander the lead in a fixture that ended up a thrilling 4-4 tie in the final minutes.
Reflecting at a prematch press conference on Satuday, Flick said: “We played two great games, but we have to be focused from start to finish. In the first game, we weren’t as focused at the beginning. And in the second, neither at the beginning nor at the end. We have to learn from that.”
“I see Barca very focused, concentrated, and eager for what will be a tough game. We have to learn from what we played. I see the team very committed,” Flick reiterated.
Though some are talking up the match at the Metropolitano – Flick’s first match there as Barca boss – as a potential title race decider, Flick played down its importance.
“There’s a long way to go to win La Liga; it’s just another game,” he said. “If you win it, yes, it will give you a lot of confidence, for sure. But there are very good teams like Real Madrid or Athletic [Club]
that you also have to beat. This La Liga isn’t easy. There are very good opponents who are always prepared. But if we’re focused and the team comes close to reaching its potential, that already makes me feel happy.”
In the late Sunday night partidazo in Spain then, Wojciech Szczesny starts in goal and is protected by a back line of Alejandro Balde, a Pau Cubarsi who has had a week and a half’s rest after serving his Champions League suspension against Benfica and the postponement of the Osasuna match, Inigo Martinez and Jules Kounde.
In midfield, it is a double pivot of Frenkie de Jong and Pedri, while Dani Olmo is the CAM.
Up top, it is the same front line trio of Raphinha, Robert Lewandowski and Lamine Yamal from left to right.
FC Barcelona Starting XI Vs. Atletico Madrid: Szczesny; Balde, Cubarsi, Inigo Kounde; Pedri, De Jong, Olmo; Raphinha, Lewandowski, Lamine
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