Barcelona vs Atl. Madrid prediction: SPAIN: LaLiga betting tips on match 2023-04-22 14:15.
A full week on the training field may have arrived at the perfect time for Barcelona, as they look to bounce back from a three-game scoreless and winless run (D2, L1). This included a goalless La Liga (LL) draw at Getafe last Sunday that had coach Xavi bizarrely blame the kick-off time and the pitch for the result! Their 11-point lead at the top of the table ahead of this round remains comfortable although not impregnable if their scoring woes aren’t addressed.
A return to Spotify Camp Nou could be a blessing in this regard as Barça have scored in 12 of their last 13 league games here, averaging over two per game. They won’t be short of motivation either, as the hosts stand a chance to win both seasonal H2Hs for the first time since the 2015/16 campaign, having won the reverse fixture 1-0.
Atlético Madrid won’t be lying low though, having gone unbeaten across 13 league games (W10, D3) including six straight wins that consolidated their top-three spot. This has softened the blow of dropping out of Europe and getting knocked out of the Copa del Rey although a win here could receive the biggest cheer from their arch rivals Real Madrid.
The run has taken coach Diego Simeone’s contract discussions off the radar but the visitors still have a lot to aim for, sitting just two points shy of Real ahead of the weekend. However, this has been a fixture that hasn’t been kind to them in recent years, with Atlético failing to win an away LL H2H since February 2006 (D5, L11 since). Four wins across their last five league road trips (D1) suggest the visitors are well prepared this time and wouldn’t mind a repeat of the 1-0 scoreline seen in three of those victories.
Players to watch: In the news for wrong reasons recently, Raphinha would hope to redeem himself with a goal as his last six in the league have come in Barcelona wins. Former Barça boy Antoine Griezmann has seen his last nine league goalscoring appearances come in Atlético wins, but has never won or found the net in nine previous personal H2H league visits (D1, L8).
Hot stat: Four of Atlético’s last six away matches and the last two LL H2Hs have produced at least one red card.