Barcelona vs Atletico Madrid has rapidly become a red letter day for European football fans over the last decade.
Diego Simeone’s side clinched their first title under his tenure with a dramatic 1-1 draw at the Camp Nou on the final day of the 2013/14 La Liga season. Former captain Diego Godin headed the late leveller to stun the 95,000 home support and cancel out an Alexis Sanchez opener. Since then they have come to blows many times as the fight with Real Madrid for league glory.
The rivals now side level on points (38) at the top of the standings with the winner of this clash all but guaranteeing themselves first position in the division heading into 2025. But the Blaugrana bagging another home win will be no plain sailing. The club are still reeling from a 1-0 home defeat to a scrapping Leganés side last weekend. Hansi Flick’s team have earned just five of a possible 18 points across their last six La Liga matches. Consequently, their lead at the top of the standings was cut to goal difference by the team they face next, second-placed Atlético Madrid.
But Rojiblancos head coach Simeone has his own demons to overcome as he seeks to snap a winless streak on the road against the Catalan side, losing a staggering 20 of his 36 visits. The former Inter Milan midfielder will no doubt be boosted by the fact that Spanish prodigy Lamine Yamal is set to miss out due to injury with talisman and World Cup-winner Antoine Griezmann playing some of the best football of his career.
It is going to be a belter – and Record Sport has all the details on how to watch.
When and where is Barcelona v Atletico Madrid?
The Spanish giants will face off at the Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys in Barcelona on Saturday, December 21. Kick off is at 8pm UK time.
Is the match on TV?
Yes it is! The game will be broadcast live on ITV4 with coverage starting at 7.30pm. Premier Sports also boasts the TV rights to show 10 La Liga matches live on TV and online through the 2024/25 campaign. Each of those matches must include at least one of Barcelona, Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid, ensuring star quality in each offering.
Is there a live stream?
Yes you can watch a live stream on either of ITVX, Premier Sports Player and LaLigaTV via the app or website on your laptop or tablet. ITVX is free but will require a TV license to watch live programming. For Premier Sports streaming and Sky customers the Premier Sports Pack (Premier Sports 1 & 2 & LaLigaTV) costs from only £10.99 per month. Virgin TV customers can subscribe to Premier Sports at a cost of £15.99 and get access to Premier Sports 1 & 2. La Liga TV is available via the Premier Sports Player.
Team news
Barcelona will be without the services of Lamine Yamal due to an ankle problem, with the 17-year-old, who has again been in excellent form this season, set to be sidelined until the early stages of 2025. Andreas Christensen and Ansu Fati both have outside chances of returning to the squad, but Marc Bernal and Marc-Andre ter Stegen are long-term absentees for the Catalan giants. Ronald Araujo is back to fitness after a lengthy absence with a hamstring problem, which required an operation, but he is expected to again be named among the substitutes for the first whistle on Saturday night.
As for Atletico, Thomas Lemar’s recent return to fitness means that Simeone currently has a full squad, with no fresh issues being reported in the build-up to this weekend’s contest. Simeone could make just one change from the side that started against Getafe, with Conor Gallagher likely to return in a wide area, which would see Samuel Lino drop to the bench.
Barcelona predicted starting XI:
Pena; Kounde, Cubarsi, Martinez, Balde; Casado, Pedri; Olmo, F Lopez, Raphinha; Lewandowski.
Atletico Madrid predicted starting XI:
Oblak; Llorente, Gimenez, Lenglet, Galan; Simeone, De Paul, Barrios, Gallagher; Alvarez, Griezmann.