Of all the 4 Champions League fixtures, the tie between Barcelona and Atletico Madrid is perhaps one that is most evenly matched. Having faced each other on 4 different occasions this season, none of the two teams has managed to win a single tie and all 4 matches have resulted in an even result.
So as Barcelona visit Vicente CalderonAi?? on Wednesday, they will be extremely aware of the fact that they might be thrown out of the Champions League in the quarter final round for the first time in several years by a team that is finally shedding its ai???under-dogai??i?? status.
Here are three crucial factors that will determine the fate of what is assured to be a highly entertaining football fixture.
Atletico Madridai??i??s 100% Defensive Record At Vicente Calderon
Having scored that crucial away goal, Atletico Madrid can very well sit tight and defend and hope to break Barcelona on the counter. A quick look at Atleticoai??i??s defensive record at home reveals that they are yet to lose a single La Liga fixture at home and have conceded only 9 goals in 17 fixtures. Hence for Barcelona to come to Calderon and outscore Atletico Madrid will be hugely daunting task. The fact that they havenai??i??t yet been beaten at home and are unbeaten in Champions League speaks volumes about Diego Simeoneai??i??s side.
So does that mean it will it be tough to beat them at home? Of course. But is it impossible? Not with Messi in the squad. If Barcelona is to derail Simeoneai??i??s well-oiled machine, Messi will have to come out with all guns blazing right from the first minute of the match. His partnership with Iniesta and Neymar will be crucial for Barcelona as they definitely have the ammunition to blast their way past Atletico Madrid.
Barcelonaai??i??s Limping Defence
An already mediocre defence has been further been damaged by Piqueai??i??s recent injury. Which means that Barcelona are going to be extremely vulnerable against a pacy Atletico side which with the presence of Diego Costa can be a bit too hot to handle. Barcelona were in urgent need of a defender last season and are very likely to pay the price now as Martino looks to pair Mascherano with inexperienced Batra at the back. Pique is out with a hip injury and things are so bad that Puyol has been called up for the tie without having received the green signal from the medical team.
Hence it remains to be seen if Barcelona can prevent Atletico Madrid from scoring at home. The Catalans have conceded a staggering 15 goals in 16 away La Liga fixtures and their defence will have a hard time in containing the likes of Diego Costa and co.
The Missing Case of Lionel Messi, Diego Costa and Neymar
And lastly, the crucial factor that is very likely to turn the entire match on its head is whether any of these three players actually arrive for the Champions League tie. While Costa is doubtful due to an injury, Messi and Neymar are used to going missing in crucial fixtures for Barcelona this season. Lionel Messi has the ability to single handedly win the match for the Catalans. But so does Diego Costa and Neymar. And hence this crucial tie might just boil to the simple fact that whichever player is in the best form will emerge victorious.
So will fortune favour the brave and smile upon Atletico Madrid who are fighting much above their weight? Or will lady luck shine again on Barcelona and carry them forward? Only time will tell.
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