The Estadi Olímpic is set to host one of the most anticipated fixtures of the 2024/25 LALIGA EA SPORTS campaign, as FC Barcelona takes on Atlético de Madrid this Saturday during Matchday 18. These two teams are currently first and second and level on 38 points, although Atleti have one game in hand, so it’s a hugely important fixture in the title race. Click this link https://a.meridianbet.ke/c/C7pYjz to start gaming and stand a chance of winning big with Meridianbet.
Diego Simeone’s side are one of the most in-form teams in Europe right now, due to their 11-game winning streak across all competitions. Atlético de Madrid haven’t lost in the league since October 27th, when they were beaten 1-0 away at Real Betis, and their latest victory came on Sunday, with Los Rojiblancos beating Getafe CF 1-0 to go 23 consecutive matches without defeat against Los Azulones. The winner was scored by Alexander Sørloth, who boasts the second-finest scoring tally (with 24 goals) after Robert Lewandowski (27 goals) in LALIGA EA SPORTS this calendar year.
The FC Barcelona striker currently tops the league’s scoring charts with 16 goals in 17 games. On Saturday, Lewandowski will look to get back to scoring ways in his bid to help the Catalans bounce back after a 1-0 home loss to CD Leganés last Sunday. Barça have won just one of their last six league duels, with two draws and three defeats along the way, which represents a major drop in form after starting out with 11 wins from their first 12 league fixtures. In fact, according to Opta, this drop in form has resulted in FC Barcelona suffering back-to-back home defeats in all competitions for only the third time in the 21st century.
Atlético de Madrid took advantage of both FC Barcelona and Real Madrid, dropping points during Matchday 17 to ascend the table. Following a slow start to the season, Simeone’s side have rediscovered their form, establishing themselves as title contenders. Meanwhile, a frenetic start to the campaign has been followed by a few unfortunate results for FC Barcelona, who are hoping to use Saturday’s game as the springboard for a potential bounce-back.
Atleti look to end their drought away at FC Barcelona
Los Blaugranas are aware that they have history on their side when it comes to home games against Atleti, as the last time that Los Colchoneros grabbed a road win at FC Barcelona was back in 2005/06, when they secured a 3-1 victory at the Camp Nou. Simeone, since he took over, has never celebrated a win away at FC Barcelona. The Argentinian tactician has visited Barça 17 times as coach and even won a league title at Camp Nou in 2013/14 courtesy of a draw, but his team has never won away in Catalonia, recording 10 losses and seven draws across all competitions.
In recent times, the Catalans have beaten Atleti in five straight games home or away and the last time that Simeone came out victorious from a game against FC Barcelona was back on October 2nd, 2021, when his team clinched a 2-0 home win in the league.
The best attack vs the best defense
The two teams’ journeys to the top of the table have been distinct so far. Boasting the finest attack in the league with an average of 2.8 goals scored per game, FC Barcelona have netted at least three goals in as many as eight games thus far, with two of their players having already recorded double digits in scoring (Lewandowski with 16 and Raphinha with 11).
Meanwhile, only Álex Remiro (10) has kept more clean sheets than Jan Oblak (eight), with a clinical Atlético de Madrid being the team that has won the most games by a 1-0 scoreline in 2024/25, something they’ve done four times. No LALIGA EA SPORTS team has recorded fewer defeats than Atlético de Madrid’s one and no side has conceded fewer goals than their tally of 11.
Hence, Saturday’s clash is expected to be a highly entertaining affair between the most in-form team in LALIGA EA SPORTS and the league’s highest-scoring side. It remains to be seen if FC Barcelona can get back to winning ways or whether Atlético de Madrid will manage to grab their first victory away at Barça in over 18 years.
