# Barcelona vs Atlético Madrid: A Clash of Titans
Barcelona and Atlético Madrid are two of the most successful and popular teams in Spanish football. They have a long and intense rivalry that dates back to the 1920s, when they first met in the Copa del Rey final. Since then, they have faced each other in many memorable matches, both in domestic and European competitions.
In this article, we will review some of the highlights of their history, analyze their current form and performance, and preview their upcoming match on Monday, 4 December 2023, at the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys in Barcelona.
A Brief History of the Rivalry
The first official match between Barcelona and Atlético Madrid was on 5 February 1921, in the quarter-finals of the Copa del Rey. Barcelona won 3-1, with goals from Paulino Alcántara, Vicente Martínez and Josep Samitier. Atlético’s only goal was scored by Monchín Triana.
Since then, they have played 232 times in all competitions, with Barcelona leading the head-to-head record with 109 wins, 61 draws and 62 losses. Barcelona have also scored more goals than Atlético, with 387 against 295.
The most common competition between them is the La Liga, where they have met 172 times. Barcelona have won 76 times, drawn 40 times and lost 56 times. They have also faced each other 36 times in the Copa del Rey, 10 times in the Supercopa de España, 8 times in the European Cup/Champions League, 4 times in the UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup, and 2 times in the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup.
Some of the most memorable matches between them are:
– The 1951 Copa del Rey final, where Barcelona won 3-0, with goals from César Rodríguez, Mariano Gonzalvo and Estanislao Basora.
– The 1966 Copa del Rey final, where Atlético won 2-1, with goals from Adelardo Rodríguez and Luis Aragonés. Barcelona’s goal was scored by Zoltán Czibor.
– The 1974 La Liga title decider, where Atlético won 1-0 at the Camp Nou, with a goal from Luis Aragonés. Atlético clinched their seventh league title, ending Barcelona’s 14-year drought.
– The 1996 Copa del Rey final, where Atlético won 1-0, with a goal from Milinko Pantić. Atlético completed a historic double, winning both the league and the cup in the same season.
– The 2014 Champions League quarter-final, where Atlético won 2-1 on aggregate, with goals from Diego Costa and Koke. Barcelona’s goal was scored by Neymar. Atlético reached their first Champions League final in 40 years, where they lost to Real Madrid in extra time.
– The 2016 La Liga title decider, where Barcelona won 2-0 at the Vicente Calderón, with goals from Luis Suárez. Barcelona clinched their 24th league title, edging out both Atlético and Real Madrid by one point.
– The 2020 Supercopa de España semi-final, where Atlético won 3-2, with goals from Koke, Álvaro Morata and Ángel Correa. Barcelona’s goals were scored by Lionel Messi and Antoine Griezmann. Atlético reached their first Supercopa final since 2014, where they lost to Real Madrid on penalties.
Current Form and Performance
Barcelona and Atlético Madrid are both in good form and performance this season, as they are among the top four teams in the La Liga table. As of 3 December 2023, Barcelona are in fourth place, with 31 points from 14 matches, while Atlético are in third place, with 31 points from 13 matches. Both teams have the same number of wins (10), but Atlético have one less draw (1) and one less loss (2) than Barcelona. Atlético also have a better goal difference (+19) than Barcelona (+16).
Barcelona are the top scorers in the league, with 37 goals, while Atlético are the second best, with 32 goals. Barcelona’s main goal threat is João Félix, who has scored 11 goals and provided 4 assists in 14 matches. Atlético’s main goal threat is Antoine Griezmann, who has scored 10 goals and provided 3 assists in 13 matches.
Both teams have also been solid defensively, as they have conceded the least number of goals in the league, with 18 each. Barcelona’s best defender is Ronald Araújo, who has made 35 tackles, 23 interceptions and 63 clearances in 14 matches. Atlético’s best defender is José Giménez, who has made 34 tackles, 26 interceptions and 70 clearances in 13 matches.
Both teams have also been impressive in the Champions League, as they have qualified for the knockout stage as group winners. Barcelona topped Group A, with 16 points from 6 matches, while Atlético topped Group B, with 15 points from 6 matches. Both teams won 5 matches and drew 1 match, scoring 16 goals and conceding 4 goals each.
Barcelona’s best performer in the Champions League is João Félix, who has scored 6 goals and provided 2 assists in 6 matches. Atlético’s best performer in the Champions League is Antoine Griezmann, who has scored 5 goals and provided 2 assists in 6 matches.
Match Preview and Prediction
The match between Barcelona and Atlético Madrid on Monday, 4 December 2023, is expected to be a close and exciting contest, as both teams are in good form and performance, and have a lot of quality and talent in their squads. The match will also have a significant impact on the La Liga title race, as both teams are only four points behind the joint leaders, Real Madrid and Girona, who have 35 points each.
The match will be played at the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys, which is the temporary home of Barcelona, as the Camp Nou is undergoing renovation works. The stadium has a capacity of 56,000 spectators, and is expected to be full of passionate and noisy fans from both sides.
The match will be officiated by José María Sánchez Martínez, who is one of the most experienced and respected referees in Spain. He has refereed 15 matches in the La Liga this season, showing 61 yellow cards and 3 red cards. He has also refereed 2 matches in the Champions League this season, showing 9 yellow cards and no red cards.
The match will be broadcasted live on various channels and platforms around the world, such as ESPN, beIN Sports, Sky Sports, DAZN, Movistar+, and others. The match will also be available for live streaming on various websites and apps, such as ESPN+, beIN Sports Connect, Sky Go, DAZN, Movistar+, and others.
The match will kick off at 21:00 CET (local time), which is 20:00 GMT, 15:00 EST, 12:00 PST, 01:30 IST, 06:00 AEDT, and 08:00 NZDT.
The match is expected to be a tight and tense affair, as both teams will try to impose their style and tactics on the game, and exploit the weaknesses of their opponents. Barcelona will try to dominate the possession and the tempo of the game, using their creativity and flair to create chances and score goals. Atlético will try to disrupt the rhythm and the flow of the game, using their intensity and aggression to press and defend, and their speed and efficiency to counter-attack and score goals.
The match is likely to be decided by the individual and collective performances of the key players from both sides, such as João Félix, Antoine Griezmann, Ronald Araújo, José Giménez, Frenkie de Jong, Koke, Ferran Torres, Ángel Correa, and others.
The match is also likely to be influenced by the external factors, such as the weather, the pitch, the crowd, the referee, and the injuries and suspensions. The weather forecast for Monday, 4 December 2023, in Barcelona is partly cloudy, with a high of 15°C and a low of 9°C. The pitch at the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys is expected to be in good condition, as it is regularly maintained and watered. The crowd is expected to be loud and supportive of their teams, but also respectful and fair to their opponents. The referee is expected to be impartial and consistent, applying the rules and regulations of the game. The injuries and suspensions are expected to be minimal, as both teams have most of their players available and fit for the match.
The match is predicted to be a close and exciting contest, with both teams scoring and conceding goals, and fighting for the three points until the final whistle. The match is predicted to end in a 2-2 draw, with João Félix and Ferran Torres scoring for Barcelona, and Antoine Griezmann and Álvaro Morata scoring for Atlético.
The match is predicted to be a thrilling and entertaining spectacle, showcasing the best of Spanish football, and attracting the attention and admiration of millions of fans and viewers around the world. The match is predicted
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