Printed On 4 Apr 2026
Who: Atletico Madrid vs Barcelona
What: Spanish soccer’s La Liga
The place: Metropolitano Stadium
When: Saturday, April 5, at 9pm (19:00 GMT).
Methods to observe: We’ll have all of the buildup on Al Jazeera Sport from 16:00 GMT prematurely of our stay textual content commentary stream.
Barcelona winger Raphinha’s premature harm heaps additional strain on teenage star Lamine Yamal forward of the membership’s triple-header towards Atletico Madrid.
Really useful Tales
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The Spanish champions go to Atletico on Saturday as they bid to take care of and even prolong their lead on the high of La Liga, earlier than two additional video games towards Diego Simeone’s workforce within the Champions League quarterfinals.
Barca have already confronted Atletico 3 times this season, beating them in La Liga in December however falling within the Copa del Rey semifinal over two legs.
With out Raphinha, out with a hamstring harm till Could, the onus can be on 18-year-old winger Yamal to offer the magic Barca have to proceed on two fronts within the approaching, inevitably intense battles with Atletico.
Yamal performed for Spain this week in a goalless draw against Egypt in Cornella at Espanyol’s stadium, which was notable for Islamophobic chanting from the house supporters that {the teenager}, a Muslim, condemned.
“To those that sing these items: utilizing a faith as a type of mockery on a pitch reveals you up as ignorant and racist,” wrote Yamal on social media.
Yamal has proven maturity past his years since bursting onto the scene as a 15-year-old, together with starring for Spain as they gained Euro 2024 and blossoming additional nonetheless as Barca claimed a home treble final season.
The teen, typically in comparison with one other graduate from Barca’s La Masia youth academy, Lionel Messi, appears to save lots of his greatest performances for the most important events.
Yamal netted six occasions for Barca in his final seven matches throughout all competitions, and the Catalan giants will hope he can proceed that type into the ultimate section of the season.
He admitted in February that he has not been completely happy this season, partially as a consequence of a long-running groin harm, however these days feels higher.
“I’ve that want to smile on the pitch that I haven’t had for a very long time, and I’m very completely happy, now I’m completely happy taking part in,” stated Yamal after scoring the primary hat-trick of his profession, towards Villarreal.
In current weeks, Barca have been depending on the ahead in assault and goalkeeper Joan Garcia on the different finish.
Strikers Robert Lewandowski and Ferran Torres have struggled for constant type, whereas Marcus Rashford has fallen considerably out of favour.
Raphinha’s harm opens the door for the England worldwide, on mortgage from Manchester United, to begin on the left once more.
Yamal’s urgent and off-the-ball work is a wonderful instance for Rashford, who regardless of his sturdy contribution when it comes to assists, generally lacks the relentless power and focus Hansi Flick desires from his forwards.
Simeone’s Atletico, fourth by a distance from fifth-place Actual Betis, have little to play for within the league however will need to construct momentum earlier than Wednesday’s Champions League quarterfinal first leg at Camp Nou.
The La Liga showdown is a preview of the sequence within the Champions League quarterfinals between the Spanish golf equipment.
It is going to be the primary of three video games between Barcelona and Atletico in 10 days. The Spanish rivals will face one another 5 occasions in lower than two months. Additionally they met within the semifinals of the Copa del Rey in February and March, when Atletico superior to the ultimate 4-3 on combination.
The Champions League video games can be on Wednesday in Barcelona and on April 14 in Madrid. Barcelona is trying to make it to the Champions League semifinals for the second season in a row, and Atletico is searching for to get again to the final 4 for the primary time since 2017.
Stat assault – Barcelona
25.3 – The typical age of the Barca squad is the youngest within the league: 25.3.
What occurred the final time Atletico Madrid confronted Barcelona?
Barcelona had been 3-0 winners within the final assembly between the edges, the second leg of their Copa del Rey semifinal in March.
The primary leg, nevertheless, was gained 4-0 by Atletico.
What occurred within the final La Liga assembly?
Barcelona had been 3-1 winners within the reverse fixture within the league earlier this season.
What occurred within the corresponding fixture final season?
Barcelona had been 4-2 winners within the La Liga fixture at Atletico, regardless of the house aspect taking a two-goal lead.
Robert Lewandowski started the Barca comeback along with his aspect’s first aim, which got here within the 72nd minute.
Head-to-head
This would be the 252nd assembly between Atletico Madrid and Barcelona, with Atletico successful 80 occasions and Barca claiming the spoils in 114 of the conferences.
Atletico Madrid workforce information
Marcos Llorente and Johnny Cardoso are each suspended for the match.
Pablo Barrios and Rodrigo Mendoza have thigh and ankle accidents, respectively, and also will miss out.
Barcelona workforce information
In addition to Raphinha, Barca are additionally prone to be with out Frenkie de Jong on the weekend, however Jules Kounde and Alejandro Balde could possibly return after harm.
