FC Barcelona travels to Madrid for a crucial La Liga match against Atlético Madrid on Sunday, March 16th, at 4 PM. This pivotal encounter marks the 28th round of LaLiga EA Sports, coming shortly after their contrasting Champions League Round of 16 ties.
This weekend’s match will be crucial in determining the La Liga title race. Barcelona currently leads the table tied on points (57) with Real Madrid, but with a game in hand. This game was postponed due to the death of Carles Miñarro. Atlético Madrid sits just one point behind the top two, adding further intensity to the game. They will need to recover quickly after their Champions League exit to prevent widening the gap in the standings.
The congested schedule in March has forced both managers to rotate their squads to allow for rest, but the importance of this match means both will likely field their strongest possible lineups.
Key player availability and suspension threats
Barcelona will welcome back Pau Cubarsí, who missed the second leg of their Champions League tie due to a red card in the first leg. He’s expected to partner with Iñigo Martínez in defense. Meanwhile, Atlético will be without Ángel Correa, serving a five-match suspension after being sent off against Getafe. The referee’s report detailed Correa’s abusive language towards the official.
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Gavi is the only Barcelona player currently at risk of suspension. A yellow card against Atlético would rule him out of the next match against Girona. Similarly, Atlético’s Koke, Julián Álvarez, and Pablo Barrios face a one-game ban if booked.
Probable lineups for Atlético Madrid vs. Barcelona
Atlético de Madrid: Oblak; Llorente, Le Normand, Lenglet, Javi Galán; Giuliano, Barrios, Gallagher, Samu Lino; Griezmann, Julián Álvarez.
FC Barcelona: Szczesny; Koundé, Pau Cubarsí, Iñigo Martínez, Balde; Pedri, De Jong, Olmo; Lamine Yamal, Lewandowski, Raphinha.
