Atletico Madrid vs Barcelona prediction, odds and betting tips

Two of La Liga’s big three will go head-to-head in a crunch clash in the Spanish capital this weekend.

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Atletico Madrid vs Barcelona odds
Find the latest match odds for Atletico Madrid vs Barcelona. All odds are provided by our best-reviewed football betting sites. Odds are subject to change.

⚡Quick Atletico Madrid vs Barcelona betting tips

Barcelona win or a draw – 8/13 with Spreadex
Under 2.5 goals – 27/20 with BetMGM
Robert Lewandowski to score any time – 13/8 with bet365

Atletico Madrid vs Barcelona predictions
Xavi Hernandez shocked everyone when he announced in late January that he would be leaving Barcelona at the end of the season. The manager told reporters before he had even informed his players.

“As a club man, I think the best thing to do is go on 30 June,” he said. “I will give my best in these four months; I still think we can complete a great season. I take this decision calmly; it’s common sense.”

There was a suggestion at the time that Xavi was jumping before he could be pushed. Barcelona had just lost 5-3 at home to Villarreal, leaving them 10 points adrift of first place. The La Liga title that they won last term was surely on its way elsewhere.

Some opined that, despite his willingness to step down in the summer, Xavi would not survive that long.

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Because of their financial issues, Barcelona cannot afford to miss out on next season’s Champions League. If their place in the top four were to come under threat, the board might be forced to make a change in the dugout – whether the incumbent is a club legend or not.

Yet results since Xavi’s announcement have not deteriorated or flatlined, but rather improved: Barcelona have not lost any of their nine matches in all competitions since that defeat by Villarreal.

The Blaugrana are through to the quarter-finals of the Champions League, a tournament in which they had previously made little impact under Xavi. They beat Napoli 3-1 on Tuesday to book their place in the last eight.

In La Liga, meanwhile, Barcelona are eight points adrift of first-placed Real Madrid but have the same buffer above Athletic Bilbao in fifth. Until the date of his intended departure, Xavi’s position looks safe.

Atletico Madrid vs Barcelona betting tips. 18+ BeGambleAware.org – Please play responsibly.
Atletico Madrid vs Barcelona betting tips
Atletico Madrid and Barcelona will both be looking to boost their top-four standing when they meet this weekend.

Barcelona or draw – 8/13 (Spreadex)
Atletico Madrid’s position in the top four of La Liga is precarious. After a surprise defeat by Cadiz last weekend, Diego Simeone’s side are only two points ahead of Athletic Bilbao.

Those two teams will lock horns at the end of April in a fixture that could go a long way to defining both of their seasons. But Atletico will want to extend their lead over Athletic before then.

They have some tricky fixtures coming up, though. A trip to Villarreal follows immediately after the international break, before second-placed Girona visit the Civitas Metropolitano.

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A return of seven or nine points from those games would leave Atletico well positioned ahead of the run-in. Two or three could see them drop outside the Champions League qualification places.

Atletico will at least draw confidence from their excellent home record, which is the best in the division. But their performances of late have been patchy, while they have won just two of their last six in La Liga. They also had to play for more than two hours in the Champions League on Wednesday.

Barcelona are showing greater resilience than they were earlier in the season, which bodes well for this tricky trip to the Metropolitano. The visitors can get something on Sunday.

⚽ Go for a Barcelona win or a draw at 8/13 with Spreadex ⚽

Under 2.5 goals – 27/20 (BetMGM)
Atletico Madrid have a formula for big matches that has been tested time and time again under Simeone.

On several occasions this season the Colchoneros have been more attacking than the stereotype about their manager allows.

They beat Rayo Vallecano 7-0 in August, lost 4-3 to Girona in January, and thumped Las Palmas 5-0 last month. Two cup meetings with Real Madrid produced a 4-2 win and a 5-3 loss.

Yet Atletico will probably return to the Simeone playbook for this weekend’s affair. The hosts will be content to cede possession before attempting to hit Barcelona on the break.

Xavi will not want to fall in the trap. He will instruct his side to remain patient with the ball. Barcelona will not force the issue and risk leaving Atletico too much space into which they can counter-attack.

The first goal, you feel, will be pivotal to determining the outcome of the match. It might even be the winner.

⚽ Tip under 2.5 goals at 27/20 with BetMGM ⚽

Robert Lewandowski to score any time – 13/8 (bet365)
This might be an unoriginal choice, but there are many reasons for it. Robert Lewandowski, put simply, is Barcelona’s most likely goal-getter on Sunday.

By his sky-high standards, this has not been the most productive season of the Poland international’s career.

Yet Lewandowski has still scored 12 goals this season despite the state of flux around him. Only six players have found the back of the net more often in La Liga.

With Atletico Madrid likely to sit deep, whether that is a tactical choice or a consequence of Barcelona’s possession game, a penalty-box predator like Lewandowski will be invaluable.

The 35-year-old has shown time and time again during his illustrious career that he is capable of making the difference in tight games. Do not be surprised if he does so again here.

⚽ Choose Robert Lewandowski to score any time at 13/8 with bet365 ⚽

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📺 How to watch Atletico Madrid vs Barcelona

Location: Civitas Metropolitano, Madrid, Spain.
Date and time: Sunday 17 March 2024, 8pm.
How to watch: ITV4.

About the author

Greg Lea

Greg Lea is a freelance football writer from London. He predominantly covers the Premier League and has had work published by the Guardian, FourFourTwo, ESPN and others.

Follow Greg on X: @GregLeaFootball

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