Europe has been a boost this week. For Barcelona, ??3-1 winner over Naples, awaiting Paris Saint Germain. And for Atlético de Madrid, who beat Inter from 1-0, came back and defeated them on penalties and now awaits Borussia Dortmund.
In the League, the Metropolitano marks the future of both teams. Barça, six points ahead, will decide if they can occupy second place after Girona’s failure in Getafe. Atlético will determine if it retains its status as favorite for a place in the next Champions League or if it further entangles its direct competition with Athletic Club for fourth place. Everything happens to win.
At Barça, with the last-minute loss of João Cancelo due to physical problems, without the injured Balde, his natural replacement, and with Marcos Alonso who, although he has received the medical discharge, has been inactive for almost five months due to lumbar problems, Xavi opted for the youth of Héctor Fort, a 17-year-old winger from the reserve team. Starting in the 3-5 against Villarreal, Fort also had testimonial minutes in the victories at Alavés’ field (1-3) and in the 4-0 against Getafe. Koundé, Araújo and Pau Cubarsí complete the defense.
The Barcelona eleven: Ter Stegen; Koundé, Araujo, Cubarsi, H. Fort; Christensen, Sergi Robert, Gundogan; Raphinha, Lewandowski and John Felix.
Sergi Roberto’s good game against Naples, key in the last half hour, has earned him the starting position in the Metropolitano as an interior player arriving in the opposing area to the detriment of Fermín. The captain will form alongside one of the secrets of this Barça this season: the presence of Andreas Christensen as a midfielder, in a position in which he has balanced the team. Gündogan will accompany him. Up front, an extra-motivated João Félix on the left regains his place in the eleven in his return to the Metropolitano for the first time in the Barcelona shirt. Raphinha on the right and Lewandowski on nine complete the Barcelona attack. Lamine Yamal remains on the bench as a stimulus after a period of great fatigue.
For his part, in the Atlético de Madrid eleven, Simeone has not started either Griezmann, with discomfort, or Memphis, a great athletic boost in the comeback against Inter. Koke Resurrección will not be there either. It will be Rodrigo Riquelme as Álvaro Morata’s partner in attack and with Pablo Barrios as center midfielder, supported on the sides by Marcos Llorente and Rodrigo de Paul.
Atlético de Madrid’s eleven: Oblak; Molina, Savic, Witsel, Reinildo, Lino; Barrios, Llorente, De Paul; Morata and Riquelme.
This Sunday Simeone presented a starting eleven against Barcelona without Antoine Griezmann or Koke Resurrección or Memphis Depay; with Rodrigo Riquelme as Álvaro Morata’s partner in attack and with Pablo Barrios as center midfielder, supported on the sides by Marcos Llorente and Rodrigo de Paul.
