Atlético Madrid vs Barcelona: times, TV, how to watch online

Follow live the action between Atlético & Barcelona in LaLiga

What time does Atlético Madrid vs Barcelona start?

The 2021/22 LaLiga Week 8 meeting between Atlético Madrid and Barcelona will kick off at the Wanda Metropolitano in Madrid on Saturday 2 October 2021 at 21:hours local time (CEST).

In the United States, that’s 15:00pm EDT and 12:00 noon PDT.

Find out what time Atlético Madrid vs Barcelona starts wherever you are in the world.

Where can I watch Atlético Madrid vs Barcelona in the US and UK?

In the US and UK, the following television channels and online services will be broadcasting live coverage of the Atlético Madrid vs Barcelona game:

US: ESPN+

UK: LaLigaTV

Click here to find out who is showing Atlético Madrid vs Barcelona elsewhere in the world.

Atlético Madrid vs Barcelona: live AS English coverage

You’ll also be able to follow live-text coverage of Atlético Madrid vs Barcelona with AS USA. We’ll be building up to the game from about an hour ahead of kick-off, before taking you through all the action in the Spanish capital.

Atlético Madrid vs Barcelona: match preview

Defending champions Atlético welcome Barcelona to the Metropolitano with the Catalans in the middle of their worst institutional crisis of recent memory. Coach Ronald Koeman won’t be in the visitors’ dug-out on Saturday, not that it would make much difference as his fate appears to be sealed - he is expected to be fired as soon as Barça find a suitable replacement and misses the second of two games through suspension. While there seems no end to Barca’s turmoil, in the league, they haven’t been faring too badly. They are one of three teams who remain unbeaten and have played a game less than their hosts who are just two points and two places above them in the table.

Atleti have enjoyed more success on the road than at their own stadium so far this season. They were held by both Villarreal and Athletic Club at the Metropolitano and managed just a slim 1-0 win over Elche back in August - their only home win to date. Simeone will know that taking on a wounded Barcelona, with their coach on his way out is an opportunity not to be missed and he will surely have something up his sleeve to frustrate and punish them.

Atlético Madrid vs Barcelona: team news

With the visitors still smarting from the mid-week defeat to Benfica, the possibility that more pain could be inflicted on them this weekend by two of their former stars, Luis Suárez and Antoine Griezmann is a chilling thought. Both forwards are expected to feature in El Cholo’s starting line-up alongside João Félix. The coach’s only doubt is at right-back - Kieran Trippier asked to be taken off in the mid-week win over AC Milan but has since returned to training without any problems; Simeone must decide whether to stick with his first choice right-back or start with Diego Llorente. Matheus Cunha, who is not yet over a thigh muscle issue is ruled out, as is Geoffrey Kondogbia who is suspended.

Barcelona go into the game without Pedri, who is carrying an injury to his left thigh and forwards Kun Agüero and Martin Braithwaite remain on the casualty list. Left-back Jordi Alba has been given the all-clear and is in the 22-man travelling squad after missing the last three league games with a hamstring injury. Koeman will complete the second part of a two-match ban and won’t oversee his team at the Metropolitano, his assistant Alfred Schreuder will be in charge of making all of the decisions on Saturday.