19:00 Atletico Madrid Vs Barcelona

dreamers75

Should be a decent game, going for an Atletico win by 2.

MisterAnarchy

Should be good allright ,will be lots of goals I hope.

NIMAN

As Ray Wilkins would say, "should be a humdinger".
I think the neutrals will be cheering on Atleti.

miralize

Holy **** cheers. Thought it was on a 10pm!

Dolph Starbeam

Should be a great game, two teams with very different styles. I still fancy Barca for the win.

miralize

Is Juanfran available?

TheMilkyPirate

I don't think there will be lots of goals myself, Would love a Barca win but can see a 1-1 here.

Big Pussy Bonpensiero

For the sake of the league, I hope Atlético win tonight.

Lukker-

Yeah would love an Athletico win. It would be amazing if they won La Liga. A massive fúck you to La Liga and how they divide up the TV money.

miralize

Lukker- wrote: »

Yeah would love an Athletico win. It would be amazing if they won La Liga. A massive fúck you to La Liga and how they divide up the TV money.

Yeah because that'll teach them...

The only way things get fair in that regard, is if Barca & Real agree in profit sharing, not something I'd imagine they's go for.

dfx-

Lukker- wrote: »

Yeah would love an Athletico win. It would be amazing if they won La Liga. A massive fúck you to La Liga and how they divide up the TV money.

wouldn't it more likely to cause the opposite? Show that another team can win La Liga with the current system and be more likely to prevent Barcelona/Madrid to give up anything...

Barcelona don't do well at Atletico. Usually if they lose, they win the league...

mike65

13 T. Courtois
23 Miranda
20 Juanfran
3 Filipe Luis
2 D. Godín
5 Tiago
14 Gabi
10 A. Turan
6 Koke
9 David Villa
19 Diego Costa

Víctor Valdés
22 Dani Alves
3 Piqué
18 Jordi Alba
14 J. Mascherano
4 Fàbregas
8 Iniesta
6 Xavi
16 Busquets
9 A. Sánchez
7 Pedro

Messi and Neymar on the bench just in case.

Andersonisgod

Neymar and Messi start on the bench tonight. Shame that neither makes the starting lineup but quite the useful options to have on the bench. Mascherano starts ahead of Bartra, wouldn't have been my choice, the rest of the team is as you'd expect.

For Atletico, David Villa starts up front with Diego Costa, Arda Turan also starts, quite an attacking lineup chosen by Simeone.

Morzadec

Massive game.

Perennial losers Atleti have their biggest league game since maybe the 90s.

Since the start I've maintained they can't win the league, but tonight if they win then I'll start believing.

I'd class myself more of an Atleti 'follower' than a fan, I've found it hard to get really fully into the team and properly passionately involved despite going to a fair amount of games and the teams excellent form of late.

But I'd absolutely love them to win tonight - partly because it's Atleti, but as others have alluded to, partly because it's a team that's not Barca/Madrid.

The Spanish league needs saving from the unfair duopoly which has ruined it in recent years.

Atleti fly the flag for the rest of the league, and it would give everyone who enjoys Spanish football hope that the league isn't a write-off before it starts (which I honestly thought it was - I'm stunned that Atleti have kept this ridiculous pace up until this point).

Very hard to predict: 1-1 or 1-2. Messi might make the difference.

C'mon Atleti

dan1895

C'mon Los Colchoneros!!

Turtwig

Correct me if I'm wrong. Barca have yet to win in that strip?

Good intensity from Madrid so far. Love to see them get the win tonight.

kingshankly

Inseta got the ball five times lost it five times

Moneymaker

Atleti are one of the best sides without the ball i've seen.

They suck the life out of the opposition, must be a nightmare to play against.

Dolph Starbeam

kingshankly wrote: »

Inseta got the ball five times lost it five times

Xavi, Busquets and Iniesta have completed 47 passes so far in this game. That's more than the entire Atletico Madrid team, who have only completed 46.

Moneymaker

YayaBanana wrote: »

Xavi, Busquets and Iniesta have completed 47 passes so far in this game. That's more than the entire Atletico Madrid team, who have only completed 46.

That's exactly how Atleti should play. They are deadly on the counter attack.

Barca have defended a few breaks very well so far though.

Andersonisgod

The referee needs to offer more protection to the Barcelona players. Too many wild challenges flying in.

ScummyMan

Athletico started very well

kingshankly

YayaBanana wrote: »

Xavi, Busquets and Iniesta have completed 47 passes so far in this game. That's more than the entire Atletico Madrid team, who have only completed 46.

These 2 yard passes are really hurting athleti

miralize

Close from Pedro. The midfield battle is interesting.

miralize

kingshankly wrote: »

These 2 yard passes are really hurting athleti

They will in the 70th minute

miralize

good pressure from Barca in the last 8 mins or so.

Moneymaker

Atleti need to get closer to Costa, no support at all.

Mascherano having a fine game that being said.

dfx-

kingshankly wrote: »

Inseta got the ball five times lost it five times

now Atletico have resorted to just kicking him. Sanchez anonymous. Pedro looking brightest

kingshankly

Not a chance created by either side
No need for goals just play a game of keep ball

miralize

dfx- wrote: »

now Atletico have resorted to just kicking him. Sanchez anonymous. Pedro looking brightest

Hard to agree with this. I'd like to see Sanchez in the middle and Messi on the right wing I think. Just to give him space a bit. Sanchez's first touch isnt the best but he can do a job there.

I think Tata will bring Song on for Iniesta 75th min if we are ahead.

Andersonisgod

After an explosive opening 15 minutes filled with running, charging in groups and menacing attacks from Atletico Madrid, Barcelona have taken a firm grip of the game.

Busquets, Xavi and Iniesta providingban excellent base for that control, Pedro has looked bright, Fabregas has dropped deep and become more involved in the game as the half wore on. Mascherano and Pique at the back have been excellent.

Tata will be delighted with how the game is playing out so far, perhaps with 30 minutes to go he can throw on Messi, Neymar or both and go for the kill. Either way, last season Barcelona crumbled under this kind of pressure but we are seeing now that, that was an anomaly and that this side can still control a game like no other.

Turtwig

Both sides are very well organised. It does seem like Atleti are lacking intensity though. Seem more afraid of losing the game than pressing Barca into submission. Wonder if that might come back to bite them. More chance of hitting Barca on the counter if press them once they enter your half.

Moneymaker

I'd say Barca have this game in the bag if it keeps up like this and we see Messi and Neymar come on. They've looked untroubled at the back and Atleti are struggling to support Costa.

keeponhurling

I know Messi us coming back from injury.
Why is Neymar not playing?

I would have started Messi anyways, just a crucial game for them

Edit: he's on now !

Andersonisgod

Uh oh........here comes Messi!!!

Neeson

Here comes Messi. Ray Hudson is riled up.

miralize

Messi better not be injured again

cson

The pressing and closing of space rather than the man is a joy to watch from a tactical point of view in this match.

kingshankly

How does the 6 foot 2 Sergio busquets get thru every day life
Every little touch has him rolling in pain

miralize

kingshankly wrote: »

How does the 6 foot 2 Sergio busquets get thru every day life
Every little touch has him rolling in pain

How do you get through life being so bitter?

kingshankly

miralize wrote: »

How do you get through life being so bitter?

Very easily

intellectual dosser

Obviously my biased nature against Barcelona, but I've seen more than a few red cards for what Mascherano just did. I think he's lucky the AM player wasn't closer to him at crunch time

cson

Mascherano lucky there; that's a red nowadays.

Andersonisgod

And here comes Neymar!!!

n32

Very lucky Mascherano not to be getting the road after that challenge. How gullible are referees though? As clear as day that Mascherano knew he was in trouble so he fakes an injury to avoid the card. Come on referees and wake up for christ sake

miralize

Great shimmy from Messi, poor header

CSF

Should have walked. Barca get an awfully high proportion of these decisions.

Moneymaker

Did he even get a yellow? Very poor challenge.

miralize

Turan MOTM so far?

cson

Moneymaker wrote: »

Did he even get a yellow? Very poor challenge.

No, amazingly.

Fair amount of players seem to get away with those type of challenges by feigning injury afterwards.

Serious chance for Messi there. He's so good in the air for a midget.