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This will be the fourth meeting between Barcelona and Atletico Madrid this season, with the previous three finishing 1-1, 0-0 and 0-0, making for an obvious lack of spectacle. Surely playing nice football won`t be a priority for either side today with a place in the Champions League semifinals being at stake.
Barcelona faced a lot of criticism this season for playing (arguably) worse football than in the last few seasons, but every time the catalans seemed down and out, they responded with top class performances – most recently routing Manchester City and defeating Real Madrid at Bernabeu (4-3) two rounds ago. Barcelona is a force to be reckoned with for sure, and right now the team is on a high, playing good football and having excellent morale. Messi is in great form, which of course is a huge asset. Barca won 5 games in a row in all competitions and is on the back of a 1-0 win at Espanyol.
Atletico Madrid is having a season for the ages, currently leading the title race in La Liga and showing some excellent form with 6 wins in a row in Spain and in the Champions League. Even if Atletico does not always win in the same impressive manner as Barcelona or Real, Simeone`s side is playing excellent on the defensive end of the field, allowing just 2 goals in this 6 match winning streak. Last time out Atletico got an impressive away win at Bilbao (2-1).
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Bet with the best odds and highest limits at Pinnacle. |
Team news and lineups
Barcelona will have to do without Victor Valdes and Cuenca, while Puyol, Montoya and Petro are questionable. Atletico Madrid has been healthy all season and things are again looking good for them as Manquillo and Garcia are their only unavailable players for this game.
FC Barcelona: Pinto – Alves, Mascherano, Pique, Alba – Busquets, Iniesta, Xavi – Sanchez, Messi, Neymar
Atletico Madrid: Courtois – Juanfran, Miranda, Godin, Luis – Gabi, Koke, Suarez – Turan, Costa, Villa
Under 2,5 goals looks incredibly tasty for this game at the current odds. Of course these two teams have the quality to score goals, especially Barcelona, but to get such a high price for the under when Barca and Atletico barely scored 2 goals in 3 matches this season (!!!) lacks basic logic. I reckon the under 2,5 bet not only has great value, but also great chances to be a winner. Clearly these two have a talent of nulifying eachother when they are meeting, and I expect this to be even more obvious in a high stakes, knockout round match. Surely no side will take too many risks. Atletico has a great back line and they know they can`t take on Barcelona in a race of “who scores more”, so again they will play the defense card. The hosts will be happy to pass it around, avoid conceding at home and patiently try to go for 1 or 2 goals to put them into pole-position for qualifying (Gerardo Martino quote: “Our aim is to keep a clean sheet”). My tip for this one is under 2,5 goals to be scored. Prediction: I`ll take a risk and say FC Barcelona – Atletico Madrid 0-0 for the 3rd consecutive time.
Pick: under 2,5 goals
Odds: 2.13 @ Pinnacle
Stake: 8
Possible profit: 9.04
Event date: 1 April
