Atl. Madrid vs Barcelona prediction: SPAIN: LaLiga betting tips on match 2025-03-15 20:00.
[p]As the dust settles on AtlĂ©tico Madridâs painful, and controversial, UEFA Champions League (UCL) exit at the hands of bitter rivals Real Madrid, Diego Simeoneâs men can now redirect their full attention to their intense three-way La Liga title race with Real and Barcelona. Just one point separated the three sides at the beginning of the round, although AtlĂ©tico have a golden opportunity to open a two-point gap to the latter with victory here. [/p]
[p]After defeating Barcelona 2-1 earlier in the season, AtlĂ©tico could complete their first winning league double against Barcelona since 2005/06. Imperious at the Metropolitano, AtlĂ©tico are yet to be conquered at home in league action (W10, D4), their longest unbeaten home start to a season since 2017/18, but continuing that here wonât be easy, as Simeone holds a low 16% win rate in managerial H2Hs against Barça (W6, D12, L20). [/p]
[p]Unlike their hosts, Barcelona sailed through to the quarter-final of the UCL during the week with a commanding 4-1 aggregate victory over Benfica. Entering this weekend at the top of the table and with a game in hand, boss Hansi Flick knows his side need to keep that momentum alive on the domestic front in search of what would be just their second La Liga title since 2018/19. [/p]
[p]Barcelona can thank their current six-game winning run in La Liga for their fortuitous position given that they had won just one of their prior eight such games (D3, L4). Stretching that run in this part of the country would typically be a tall order, yet with Barcelona unbeaten in their last three away league games against sides from the Community of Madrid (W2, D1), Flick must be confident of avoiding becoming the first-ever Barcelona boss to lose his first two league H2Hs against Atlético. [/p]
[p]Players to watch: With seven goals, AtlĂ©ticoâs Alexander SĂžrloth has scored more times as a substitute than any other player across the traditional âbig-fiveâ European leagues. Robert Lewandowski has already eclipsed his total La Liga goals from last season by two (G21), scoring in five of his last six league appearances, including three match openers. [/p]
[p]Hot stat: Atlético avoided defeat in eight of their ten league games when conceding first this season (W3, D5, L2). [/p]
[p][i]Written by Matthew Billon[/i][/p]