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Attendance: 67,204
Atletico Madrid logo
La Liga | Gameweek 13
Nov 24, 2018 at 7.45pm UK
 
Barcelona logo

1-1

Costa (77')
FT(HT: 0-0)
Dembele (90')

How Barcelona could line up against Atletico Madrid

Sports Mole takes a look at how Barcelona could line up in Saturday's La Liga clash with Atletico Madrid.

Barcelona be looking to stretch their unbeaten La Liga run against Atletico Madrid to 17 games when they travel to the Wanda Metropolitano on Saturday.

Not since February 2010 have Barcelona lost to Atletico in Spain's top flight, and Ernesto Valverde's side will be desperate to post another win this weekend.

Barcelona suffered a 4-3 home defeat to Real Betis before the international break, but they still sit top of the division after 12 matches.

That said, the Catalan giants are just one point ahead of fourth-placed Alaves, with Atletico sitting third having lost just once this term.

Here, Sports Mole takes a look at how Barcelona could line up for the fascinating match at the Wanda Metropolitano.


POSS BAR XI vs. ATL

Out: Thomas Vermaelen (hamstring), Sergi Samper (calf), Ivan Rakitic (thigh/suspension)
Doubtful: Philippe Coutinho (hamstring)

Samuel Umtiti has not played for Barcelona in La Liga since the end of September due to a knee problem, but the Frenchman was on the bench against Betis before the international break and should return to the starting XI for this one.

Umtiti should come in for Clement Lenglet to start alongside Gerard Pique in central defence, with Marc-Andre ter Stegen, who has kept just two clean sheets in La Liga this season, between the sticks.

Ivan Rakitic is unavailable for Barcelona through suspension, although he also picked up an injury during the international break. Arthur and Sergio Busquets will be two of the three in the middle of the park, and Arturo Vidal could be rewarded for his goal against Betis with a position in the first XI.

That said, it seems more likely that Valverde will bring Nelson Semedo into the right-back position, allowing Sergi Roberto to push into central midfield. Further forward, Philippe Coutinho is back in training following a hamstring problem, and the Brazilian will face a late fitness test.

The other two positions will be occupied by Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez. Messi capped his return from a fractured arm with a brace against Betis last time out, and now has 14 goals in 13 games this season. Suarez, meanwhile, has managed nine strikes in 12 La Liga fixtures during the 2018-19 campaign.

> Click here to see how Atletico could line up for this fixture

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Rafinha celebrates with Philippe Coutinho after opening the scoring for Barcelona in their Champions League tie with Inter Milan on October 24, 2018
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Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Real Madrid29226164204472
2Barcelona29197360342664
3GironaGirona29195559342562
4Athletic Bilbao29168550262456
5Atletico MadridAtletico29174854342055
6Real Sociedad291210742311146
7Real BetisBetis29101273433142
8Valencia28117103232040
9Villarreal29108114751-438
10Getafe2991193742-538
11Las PalmasLas Palmas29107122932-337
12Osasuna29106133343-1036
13AlavesAlaves2988132635-932
14Mallorca29612112535-1030
15Rayo Vallecano29611122538-1329
16Sevilla29610133644-828
17Celta Vigo2969143244-1227
18CadizCadiz29313132040-2022
19Granada2828183058-2814
20Almeria29110182857-2913

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