Three teams have dominated the top of the Spanish top-flight in recent years. The big two of Barcelona and Real Madrid have seemingly been battling for supremacy in La Liga since the dawn of time.
Real Madrid’s arch-rivals Atletico have muscled in on the cosy duopoly in recent years. Los Rojiblancos may have only won one Spanish title in the last two decades, but they have consistently punched above their weight in La Liga.
On Sunday night, Atletico will likely prove a tough obstacle for league leaders and champions Barcelona to overcome at the Wanda Metropolitano.
Atletico’s form has not been great of late, though, as Diego Simeone’s team have won just once in six competitive matches. Their recent La Liga campaign has been dogged by draws, with three of their last four outings ending all-square.
Despite a plethora of draws in the Spanish top-flight in recent months, Atletico are still fourth in the table, just three points behind the visitors from Catalonia.
Simeone has created a team that is hard to defeat, tough and resilient in his image as a player. Those qualities have led to Atletico’s 14-match unbeaten run in La Liga on home soil.
Barcelona are top of the table, but arch-rivals Real Madrid are level on points with the champions. Ernesto Valverde’s side has now recorded four consecutive competitive wins after a midweek 3-1 Champions League win over Dortmund.
The Catalan giants have not just reserved their good results for Europe’s elite competition, though, as they have also won seven of their last eight games in the Spanish top-flight.
The visitors have certainly lived up to their reputation as one of the best attacking teams in the European game of late, as they have fired home at least two goals in seven of their last eight league outings.
Forebet predicts that Barcelona will once again fire in Madrid, but that wily Atletico will hold them to a high-scoring draw.