Atletico Madrid vs Barcelona live score, updates, highlights from La Liga clash

By | January 8, 2023
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Barcelona have a fantastic chance to build a gap atop the Spanish top flight as they visit Atletico Madrid in a Sunday La Liga showdown.

The Blaugrana suddenly find themselves with a glorious opportunity after Real Madrid, level on points for the moment, fell to Villarreal just a day before. That affords Xavi and company a chance to build a lead should they secure any result on the road at the Wanda Metropolitano.

It won’t be easy, however, as they’ll have to do so without star striker Robert Lewandowski who begins a three-match suspension today for gestures made towards an official before the World Cup break.

Additionally, Barcelona come up against a suddenly in-form Atletico Madrid side that has won all four of its last matches, although three of those have come in Copa del Rey play. The hosts feature a number of players who are coming off great World Cup showings, including Antoine Griezmann who led his France side to the final. Striker Alvaro Morata is also fresh off a quality performance in Qatar despite Spain’s early exit.

MORE: La Liga top goalscorers for 2022/23 season as players chase suspended Lewandowski

The Sporting News will be following the match live and providing score updates, commentary and highlights as they happen.

Atletico Madrid vs Barcelona live score

  1H 2H Score
Atletico Madrid – – –
Barcelona – – –

Goals:
None

Confirmed lineups:

Atletico Madrid (4-4-2, right to left): 13. Oblak (GK) — Reinildo, 2. Gimenez, 23. 15. Savic, 16. Molina — 14. Llorente, 6. Koke, 34. Barrios, 21. Carrasco — 8. Griezmann, 7. Felix

Barcelona (4-4-2, right to left): 1. Ter Stegen (GK) — 23. Kounde, 15. Christensen, 4. Araujo, 28. Balde — 30. Gavi, 5. Busquets, 21. De Jong, 8. Pedri — 10. Fati, 7. Dembele

Atletico Madrid vs Barcelona live updates, highlights, commentary

65 mins to kickoff: The Atletico Madrid lineup is in as well, and there’s a formation change on their end as well. Diego Simeone has also moved to a 4-4-2, from his usual three-CB system. Axel Witsel is dropped, while Koke is preferred in midfield. Joao Felix and Antoine Griezmann start in the attack, with Alvaro Morata sat despite his good World Cup form.

75 mins to kickoff: The Barcelona lineup is already out, and it’s a surprising one, as Xavi has gone with four midfielders in a lineup shift, moving to a 4-4-2 from the usual 4-3-3. Both Sergio Busquets and Frenkie de Jong are in the lineup, alongside youngsters Pedri and Gavi.

Up front, neither Memphis Depay or Ferran Torres start in place of the suspended Robert Lewandowski. Instead, it’s wingers Ansu Fati and Ousmane Dembele, both natural wingers, who deputise as the strike partnership.

87 mins to kickoff: The Atletico Madrid bus has arrived at the Wanda Metropolitano, with this match under two hours until kickoff.

Diego Simeone has a number of players to choose from in midfield, one of the more fascinating lineup situations on either side of this match. He could move Axel Witsel into midfield or leave him at centre-back, which will influence the rest of the moves. It will be interesting to see if Thomas Lemar can break the side, having barely played this season.

95 mins to kickoff: The Blaugrana are struggling for defenders at the moment thanks to a few injuries. They’re reportedly in discussions with the representatives of Benjamin Pavard, who wants out of Bayern Munich and is out of contract this summer. It’s unlikely a move would be secured this winter, but he could be someone to arrive this summer.

You can see all the Barcelona transfer rumors this winter here.

120 mins to kickoff: Barcelona will be without two starters due to suspension in this match, most notably Robert Lewandowski, who serves a three-match suspension. Meanwhile, Jordi Alba was sent off last time out, triggering a one-match ban.

There are capable replacements for both. Ferran Torres has largely been a disappointment this season, so Xavi could look to Memphis Depay up front, after the Dutchman played well in Qatar once returning from injury. Meanwhile, Alex Balde is young but has done well in his few minutes playing behind Alba.

MORE: Read the details regarding Robert Lewandowski’s three-match suspension

Atletico Madrid vs Barcelona lineups & team news

The biggest question for Diego Simeone was how to deploy his three attackers in Antoine Griezmann, Alvaro Morata, and Joao Felix. Rumors continue to swirl about Felix’s future at Atleti, but that doesn’t affect his standing within the squad, starting alongside Griezmann with Morata on the bench.

There’s a formational change as Simeone moves to a 4-4-2, dropping Axel Witsel while Koke and Reinildo enter the mix.

Mario Hermoso is suspended after being sent off in their last La Liga match.

Predicted Atletico Madrid XI (3-5-2): Oblak (GK) — Reinildo, Gimenez, Savic, Molina — Llorente, Koke, Barrios, Carrasco — Griezmann, Felix

Atletico Madrid subs (9): (Lineups released one hour prior to kickoff)

With Xavi having rotated his squad heavily for the midweek Copa del Rey match, it’s tough to know who will remain and who will drop to the bench this weekend. Sergio Busquets was the biggest question mark, as the 34-year-old will want to avoid overuse, but he starts, interestingly alongside Frenkie de Jong in a new look 4-4-2 formation.

One player who won’t be involved is Robert Lewandowski who is in the midst of a three-match suspension after being sent off in a match before the World Cup break. His ban was put off briefly for appeal, allowing him to take part in the draw with Espanyol last weekend, but it was upheld in court, so he is out of action for three games.

It was thought either Memphis Depay or Ferran Torres ccould take that spot up front, with the former having started midweek against Intercity FC, but Xavi surprised many by pairing natural wingers Ousmane Dembele and Ansu Fati up front. Jordi Alba is also suspended, meaning Alex Balde is deployed at full-back.

MORE: All the latest Barcelona transfer news for the 2023 January window

Confirmed Barcelona XI (4-4-2): Ter Stegen (GK) — Kounde, Christensen, Alonso, Balde — Gavi, Busquets De Jong, Pedri — Fati, Dembele.

Barcelona subs (9): (Lineups released one hour prior to kickoff)

How to watch Atletico Madrid vs Barcelona

Here’s how to watch all of the action from this match in some of the major territories:

  TV channel Streaming
USA —  ESPN+
Canada — TSN app, TSN.ca
UK LaLiga TV, ITV4 ITVX, Viaplay Sports
Australia Optus Sport beIN Sports Connect
New Zealand Sky Sport 7 beIN Sports beIN Sports Connect
India — Voot Select
Hong Kong Now Sports 2 Now Player
Malaysia beIN Sports sooka, beIN Sports Connect
Singapore beIN Sports StarHub TV+, beIN Sports Connect

UK: La Liga matches in the UK are carried on LaLiga TV and ITV, with ITV’s streaming platform ITVX available for online viewing.

USA: All La Liga matches in the United States are shown on ESPN’s premium streaming service ESPN+, requiring a subscription to view.

Canada: All La Liga matches in Canada are available via TSN’s streaming options.

Australia: Fans in Australia can stream every match live and on demand on Optus Sport. 

Atletico Madrid vs Barcelona betting odds & lines

Odds via BetMGM (USA), Sports Interaction (Canada), SkyBet (UK), & Ladbrokes (Australia).

Barcelona are favored in this match, but they still sport plus odds as bookmakers give Atletico Madrid a fighting chance thanks to their recent good form.

Part of that will be down to the individual players available for selection. Robert Lewandowski’s absence certainly plays a factor, while Atletico sport Antoine Griezmann, one of the best players at the 2022 World Cup and in great form.

  BetMGM Sports
Interaction		 SkyBet Ladbrokes
Atletico win +210 2.95 2/1 2/1
Draw +240 3.31 12/5 23/10
Barcelona win +125 2.27 13/10 13/10
Both teams
to score Y / N		 -145 / +100 1.64 / 2.00 4/6, 11/10 4/6, 11/10
Over / Under
2.5 goals		 -120 / -115 1.83 / 1.87 5/6, 5/6 5/6, 20/23
BAR -0.5 +115 2.24 — —
ATM +0.5 -165 1.61 — —

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