Atlético Madrid 1-2 Barcelona summary: score, goals, highlights | LaLiga 2025/26
Robert Lewandowski’s late goal secures a 2-1 win against 10-man Atleti, who had Nico González sent off. Barça go seven points clear of Real Madrid.
Show key events only
Atlético Madrid 1-2 Barcelona, LaLiga: as it happened
Gonzalo Fuentes / REUTERS
Atlético Madrid 1-2 Barcelona: Full-time thoughts
The game started at a relentless pace, with Yamal going close in just the second minute as Barcelona started brightly. Atleti soon began to threaten themselves, however, with Griezmann passing up two clear-cut chances to open the scoring.
Things were fairly even for most of the half, despite Barcelona enjoy the bulk of the possession. But it was Atleti who took the lead through Giuliano Simeone, who had acres of space to run onto Lenglet’s long pass and fire past Joan García.
But the hosts’ lead lasted little more than a minute, as Rashford raced up the other end, played a one-two with Olmo and fired past Musso.
Then came two potentially decisive moments either side of half time. First, Atlético’s Nico González was correctly sent off, his second yellow card for a foul on Yamal upgraded to a red, not that it mattered. Then, seconds into the second half, Barça’s Gerard Martín had his straight red card overturned after a VAR check. Martín certainly played the ball before following through on Almada, although the incident was one which is often punished with a red card in modern-day soccer.
With Atleti down to 10, it was one-way traffic in the second half. A Barcelona goal never really felt inevitable, even if Musso did make a couple of big saves. However, with time running out, Lewandowski picked up a rebound and found the net from close range, eventually breaking Atleti’s defensive resistance.
The victory takes Barcelona seven points clear of Real Madrid at the top of the table, a considerable gap with only eight games left to play.
Thanks for following!
We'll leave things there for now. But remember, there's only four days to wait until these two meet again in the Champions League! Be sure to check in on AS USA for all the fallout from today's game in Madrid and the build-up to Wednesday's Euro clash in Barcelona.
Thanks for coming along for the ride.
Lamine Yamal doing Lamine Yamal things
This was the insane piece of Lamine Yamal skill I mentioned in the first half. You're welcome (although you could argue the pass was actually overhit). The Barça youngster didn't look happy at the end of the game, despite his team winning, so we'll have to wait to see what that's all about.
Mariscal / EFE
Atlético Madrid and Barcelona meet again... in four days!
If you enjoyed that and want to see these two go up against each other again, then you're in luck! Atlético and Barcelona will play each other in the first leg of the Champions League quarterfinals on Wednesday this week (April 8), with the second leg taking place the following Tuesday (April 14).
Controversial Gerard Martín call decisive?
How much of an impact did the decision to overturn a red card given to Gerard Martín have on the result? As you'd expect, social media reactions range from “Martín tried to kill Thiago Almada” to “how could Martín get a red card just form kicking the ball?”
There's no doubt Martín played the ball, but his follow-through was aggressive and caught Almada high on the ankle. The kind of challenge that wasn't even a foul 15 or 20 years ago but is almost always a red card nowadays. Not today.
Barcelona open up Real Madrid gap
The result is much more significant for Barcelona. A seven-point gap feels much, much, much bigger than a four-point gap, and that's what they have now after their win in Madrid and Real Madrid's shock defeat to Mallorca. Even if Los Blancos win El Clásico at Spotify Camp Nou, they still have plenty of other ground to make up.
Atlético Madrid still fourth in LaLiga
In all honesty, the defeat doesn't matter a great deal for Atlético Madrid, who are well on course for Champions League qualification next season anyway. They'll be encouraged by their first-half display, but the sending off of Nico González really put a spanner in the works.
Full time: Atlético Madrid 1-2 Barcelona
Barcelona go seven points clear at the top of LaLiga! Lewandowski's late goal did the business against 10-man Atleti!
Barcelona are playing for time here in the corner.
Diego Simeone yellow card!
Simeone gets involved in a mild bit of shoving with Torres as he tries to get the ball back quickly for an Atleti throw. He's given a yellow card for his troubles.
Taufik Seidu yellow card
The Atleti youngster has just blocked off Gavi and has now pushed Pedri over, earning a yellow card.
Atleti do manage to get into the Barça box but Almada's cross is easily dealt with the visiting defense.
A free-flowing Barcelona attack ends with Koundé shanking a cross out for a goal kick. He's maybe still a bit rusty after his injury.
Six minutes of injury time
Atleti have to find a way to give it go in the final six minute. I reckon they've only been into the Barcelona box a couple of times in the second half.
Sorry, Atleti fans, but I reckon that is going to be that. Unless something utterly bizarre happens.
It's all down to Cancelo's brilliant work on the left. He twists Almada inside out and his shot can only be parried by Musso into the path of Lewandowski, who bundles the ball in from close range.
GOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAL BARCELONA! LEWANDOWSKI!
There it is! Lewandowski in the right place at the right time as usual!
Yamal shoots well over
Jeers from the crowd as Yamal takes aim from the edge of the box but shoots well over!
Close for Atleti!
It wasn't even a chance, but it was almost a great chance! Ruggeri breaks away down the Atleti left and lofts the ball over the top for Sorloth, but it justruns away from him and through to Joan García, who has barely touched the ball at all this half.
It's incessant pressure from Barcelona, but a goal hasn't felt inevitable, even if they have had one or two good chances.
Torres shot saved!
Cancelo gets to the goal line and cuts the ball back to Torres, who pokes the ball goalward from under his feet but can't squeeze it past Musso, who has been impeccable so far.
Giménez celebrates as if he's scored a goal to prevent Lewandowski from getting onto a loose ball in the Atleti box. That's what it's all about at the moment for the hosts.
Atleti hemmed in
There's no way out for Atleti now, who might have to deal with more crosses into their box now that Lewandowski is on.
Double Barcelona change
Lewandowski and Gavi come on for Eric García and Rashford.
How did Barça not score there? Yamal flips the ball up to the back post for Rashford, whose flick across goal goes between two teammates and is cleared to safety.
Eric Garcia buys a foul inside his own box when there was none to get his team out of trouble. A last-ditch tackle from Cubarsí was needed to stop Sorloth from getting a rare chance for Atleti, although play was incorrectly pulled back anyway.
A couple of looses touches there from Yamal, which is always surprising. He has the chance to feed the ball through for Torres, but is off target with his pass as the Barça forward looked to have space to run in behind.
There's absolutely no sign of a goal for Atlético coming. It's very much a defensive effort for the hosts, who are down to 10.
Torres misses big chance!
No, they don't, but they should! It's a brilliant move and as clear a chance as Torres could've hoped for from Olmo's pass, but his shot is too close to Musso, who reacts superbly to touch it round the post!
I'm going to say Atlético Madrid have defended more comfortably than they probably thought they were going to have to. Obviously, Barcelona will score now.
Atlético Madrid sub
It's a debut for teenager Taufik Seidu, who comes on for Lenglet.
Musso saves from Torres!
Cancelo hoists a cross up to the back post, where players on both sides miss it until it drops to Torres, who looks to find the far corner but is denied by Musso!
Cancelo shot blocked!
For the first time in the second half, Barcelona threaten to cut Atleti open. Cancelo gets a sight of goal but Giménez gets an excellent block in.
Knowing smiles between Lenglet and Olmo as the defender throws himself to the ground under a tiny bit of pressure from the Barcelona attacker, winning a soft free kick in the process. Soccer in 2026 in a nutshell.
Barcelona substitution
Koundé returns from injury to replace fellow sub Bernal, who himself has picked up a knock.
Needless to say, Barcelona's dominance of possession has only increased since Atleti went down to 10 men just before half time. Which has spoiled the game a little, if we're being honest.
Atleti triple change
Giménez, Sorloth and youngster Morcillo are on for Baena, Giuliano and Griezmann.
Yamal shoots inches wide!
That's incredible play from Yamal! He somehow sneaks through several Atleti shirts on the edge of the box and shoots just wide of the post!
Substitutions for both teams
These changes actually took place at half time, but there's been a lot going on since the second half got underway.
Atleti
Ruggeri on for Koke.
Barcelona
Ferran Torres on for Fermín López.
There's another one. Yamal tries a shot from an almost identical position, it takes a nick off a defender and bounces up kindly for Musso.
Lamine Yamal makes space for a shot inside the box, but it's blocked almost as soon as it leaves his foot. Atleti are going to have to do a lot more defending like that, I think.
Yellow card for Lenglet
Yamal skips round Lenglet, who holds the Barcelona attacker back just outside the box. A yellow card and free kick, which Yamal himself blazes well over.
There's been absolutely no play at all in the second half so far, just the Martín-Almada challenge and the VAR check. We're already at the 50th minute.
VAR overturns Martín red card!
I'm stunned. The way soccer has gone, that's almost always a red card now. He did play the ball but the follow through looked pretty nasty and I'm not sure was totally necessary. Gerard Martín has been left off the hook.
Martín goes to clear the ball, kicks it but follows through and ends up stamping on Almada's ankle, which bends very uncomfortably.
VAR check on Martín red card
Could Martín get a reprieve? Potentially. Our referee is heading to the monitor...
Wow, what a start to the second half. It was all rather doom and gloom from an Atleti point of view. It might not be now!
Gerard Martín sent off!
Well, well, well! Who saw this coming? Seconds into the second half, Martín leaves one on Almada and gets a straight red card!
Back underway in Madrid!
Atleti get play back underway for the second half!
Araújo injured
I mentioned that Bernal had replaced Araújo towards the end of the first half and it does look as if the defender has suffered an injury. No news on what that is, just yet.
Of course, González's second yellow card was upgraded to a straight red after a VAR check, so technically not two yellow cards.
González red card could prove crucial
I have a feeling Nico González's red card just before half time could spell seriously bad news for Atleti. He was proving to be something of a threat going forward but Lamine Yamal had him on toast going the other way. Two blatant fouls, two blatant yellow cards. Bye bye Nico.
"Well done, Mister Rashford"
Top captioning from the Barcelona social media team. There's nothing worse than conceding a goal immediately after scoring one, but that's exactly what Atlético did. A quick one-two between Rashford and Olmo and Barça were back on level terms.
Extra pocket money for Giuliano Simeone
Diego Simeone will have to think about giving son Giuliano some extra pocket money after his opening goal for Atleti, which came from some really poor defending from Barcelona. We know the Catalans love to play a ridiculously high line, which usually makes for entertaining games. But there was no pressure on Lenglet, whose long ball forward found Simeone in acres of space in behind the Barça defense.
Atlético Madrid 1-1 Barcelona: Half time
That was the last act of a very entertaining first half! 1-1 at the break, Atleti are going to be right up against it in the second period, I predict.
Bernal shoots just wide!
That free kick is whipped into the box and Bernal, who came on for Araújo amid all the madness, prodded the ball just wide at the back post!
Straight red card for González
Comedy stuff here. The referee made the gesture to say Nico Gonález's yellow card had been overruled, which led to a cheer from the home crowd. Only to then show him a straight red card! Free kick to Barcelona.
Should VAR be getting involved ins second yellow cards? In theory, it's only with straight red cards. I think the check might be to see if it's a penalty or not. Still, if there's an offside, González could still get off the hook.
González could be saved!
Hold on just a second! There might have been an offside there. VAR checking...
González sent off!
Oh no, Nico. The Atleti left-back is off! Yamal again gets in behind and González chops him down on the edge of the box. Inches away from being a penalty! But a red is bad enough for Atleti.
Three minutes of injury time
Mostly from that flashpoint a minute ago.
Yellow cards on both sides
Molina, Koke and Fermín have all been booked for the parts they played in that nonsense, which was much to do about nothing.
Flashpoint!
Giuliano goes down “easily,” shall we say, after bumping into Olmo, and all hell breaks loose, for some reason. A crowd of players get involved, and there are going to be some yellow cards dished out.
What an end to the half!
A one-two between Rashford and Olmo catches out Le Normand and the Englishman shoots low past Musso, almost underneath the Atleti goalkeeper.
GOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAL BARCELONA! RASHFORD!
An immediate response from Barcelona!
It's just a straight ball over the top of the Barça defence from Lenglet. He finds Giuliano in acres of space, he takes a touch and fires past García!
GOOOOOOOOAAAAAAL ATLÉTICO MADRID! GIULIANO SIMEONE!
And from the halfway line, a long ball up the field leads to Giuliano Simeone scoring!
Ah, that's so frustrating. Baena just played one of the most beautifully disguised passes into the penalty box I've ever seen, but Koke turned back and Atleti end up playing the ball all the way back to the halfway line.
Eric García is next to get away with one after leaving a late one on Nico González.
Yamal hits the post, should score!
This is a real rollercoaster... Yamal, infuriated by my comment, springs back to life and almost scores! He plays a brilliant one-two with Fermín and tries to dink the ball over Musso, but ends up hitting the post. He probably should've done better.
Ever since I bigged Lamine Yamal up, he's kind of disappeared from the game. Nico González knows what he's doing after all.
Griezmann goes close again!
Baena fizzes a low corner into the near post and Griezmann gets a flick on it. It's cleared a couple of yards from goal, with Koke blazing the loose ball over.
Griezmann is in the thick of the action against his old team. Barcelona think he should get a yellow card for sliding in late on Pedri in midfield. Referee Busquets Ferrer says ‘no,’ which is the same in Spanish as it is in English.
Griezmann misses huge chance!
That's another howler from Griezmann! There's acres of space behind the Barcelona defence, which Baena exploits. His cross finds Griezmann all alone in the middle but he skews wide first time on his right foot.
It was flagged offside, but it wasn't. VAR would've given that if it had gone in.
Griezmann almost gets in behind!
Alert goalkeeping from Joan García there to stop Griezmann from getting onto a long ball froward, which caught out the Madrid defense.
Molina's van Basten impression fails
There's the benefit of González at left-back. Yamal has no interest in following him and he gets in behind Araújo. His cross to the back post is met by Molina, whose ambition van Basten-esque volley flies miles over.
The chances to score have dried up. Atleti are getting on the ball a bit more but still lots of Barcelona possession, as you'd expect.
Gonázlez yellow card
Right on cue.. The ball is floated over González's head and he almost catches it to stop Yamal from getting in behind. The gasp from the crowd tells you everything. The clearest yellow you've ever seen.
Nico González's long night
I've been wondering how Gónzalez, normally a winger, would fare at left-back against Yamal. I think we can say he's going to be in for a tough time, as Yamal skips past him again.
Pedri feeds an eye-of-the-needle pass through for Fermín, who's taking up some great positions. The Atleti defense again does well to crowd him out... and it was offside anyway.
It's been pretty breathless stuff so far. Things have calmed down slightly in the last couple of minutes, though. You know if won't last.
If I can find a clip of that Lamine Yamal passage of play, I'll stick it up. Sublime isn't a strong enough adjective.
Fermín threatens again!
Oh my word. That was absolutely filthy from Yamal! The winger nutmegs González then plays a ridiculous outside-of-the-boot through ball for López, who looks set to be clean through on goal. But it skips away from him just enough to allow Molina to get in the way. Great defending again.
Fermín López chance!
Barcelona race down the other end and Fermín López tests Musso from a narrow angle! But the midfielder really should have slid the ball across goal for Rashford, who would have had a tap-in at the back post!
Almost a brilliant Griezmann goal!
What a goal that would have been! The hairs on the back of my neck are literally standing up. Koke feeds the ball through to the Griezmann, who nutmegs Martín, sits Araújo down on his backside and has a clear sight of goal in the box. He should score but shoots straight at García!
Crucial interception from Le Normand!
Brilliant play from Rashford to skip away from Molina but it's equally brilliant defending from Le Normand to stop the Barça forward from going clean through on goal. He had to make that tackle, and he did.
By the way, Barcelona are lining up slightly differently to how I set them out. Araújo is at right-back, with Cancelo on the left. Gerard Martín partners Cubarsí in central defense, with Eric García ahead of them in midfield.
Rashford free kick saved!
Rashford tries his luck from the resulting free kick, although he's miles out. He gets it on target but Musso makes a comfortable stop.
A big mistake in possession from Lenglet gives Barça the chance to break dangerous. The French defender is lucky to get away without a yellow card after stopping Fermín from charging towards the box.
Just as I say that, Atleti have their first foray into the Barcelona box! But Koke is crowded out and gives away a free kick anyway.
Barcelona's bright start
It's been a bright start for Barcelona, with Rashford looking lively out on the left. No threat from Atleti at all so far.
Yamal's said corner is easily claimed by Musso.
An early chance for Yamal!
Almost an opener for Barcelona! Cancelo gets in behind the Atleti defence on the left, cuts the ball across goal and Yamal's shot from a tight angle is blocked out for a corner!
It's been all Barcelona possession so far. But in completely unthreatening areas of the field.
Underway in Madrid!
We have lift off! Barcelona get us going.
Atlético Madrid vs Barcelona: What's at stake?
A little reminder, in case you'd forgotten. Barcelona will go seven points clear of Real Madrid with a win. That's huge.
Atlético can move above Villarreal into third place if they come out on top.
Atlético Madrid vs Barcelona about to begin!
The teams are on the way out and the Metropolitano is in full voice as Atleti fans sing the club anthem. Spectacular.
Who’s the referee for Atlético Madrid vs Barcelona? And the VAR?
Mateo Busquets Ferrer, who I'm assured is not the love child of former Barcelona stars Sergio Busquets and Albert Ferrer, referees today’s game at Estadio Metropolitano. Mario Melero López is the VAR, which you could argue is even more important to know in this day and age.
Atlético Madrid team to play Barcelona
Musso; Molina, Le Normand, Lenglet, González; Giuliano, Koke, Vargas, Baena; Griezmann, Almada.
US-born Mexican international Obed Vargas starts in midfield, while MLS-bound Antoine Griezmann will play somewhere between midfield and attack.
Barcelona team to play Atlético Madrid
Joan García; Cancelo, Araújo, Cubarsí, Gerard Martín; Fermín López, Eric Garcia, Pedri; Yamal, Olmo, Rashford.
Remember, Barcelona are without Raphinha and Frenkie de Jong, both injured.
Ten minutes until kickoff!
Right, we've got just 10 minutes until kickoff, so it's probably a good time to go over the starting lineups for both teams once again.
Albert Gea / REUTERS
Atlético Madrid vs Barcelona: last 10 meetings
Barcelona have certainly had the upper hand in recent games between the teams. The Catalans have won seven of the last 10 meetings, with only two victories for Atleti.
March 2026: Barcelona 3-0 Atlético (Copa del Rey)
February 2026: Atlético 4-0 Barcelona (Copa del Rey)
December 2025: Barcelona 1-0 Atlético (LaLiga)
April 2025: Atlético 0-1 Barcelona (Copa del Rey)
March 2025: Atlético 2-4 Barcelona (LaLiga)
February 2025: Barcelona 4-4 Atlético (Copa del Rey)
December 2024: Barcelona 1-2 Atlético (LaLiga)
March 2024: Atlético 0-3 Barcelona (LaLiga)
December 2023: Barcelona 1-0 Atlético (LaLiga)
April 2023: Barcelona 1-0 Atlético (LaLiga)
Barcelona: Last six games
March 22: Barcelona 1-0 Rayo Vallecano
March 18: Barcelona 7-2 Newcastle
March 15: Barcelona 5-2 Sevilla
March 10: Newcastle 1-1 Barcelona
March 7: Athletic Club 0-1 Barcelona
March 3: Barcelona 3-0 Atlético Madrid
Barcelona’s relentless winning form
After losing back-to-back games away to Atlético (in the Copa del Rey) and Girona, Barcelona are unbeaten in their last eight games in all competitions. They've won seven of those, with their only slip-up (of sorts) coming in the away leg of their Champions League round of 16 tie against Newcastle. The Catalans won the second leg 7-2, so we can probably say it didn’t matter all that much.
Barça have won 17 of their last 19 LaLiga fixtures, with that defeat to Girona and a loss at Real Sociedad the exceptions.
Atlético Madrid: last six games
March 23: Real Madrid 3-2 Atlético Madrid
March 18: Spurs 3-2 Atlético Madrid
March 14: Atlético Madrid 1-0 Getafe
March 10: Atlético Madrid 5-2 Spurs
March 7: Atlético Madrid 3-2 Real Sociedad
March 3: Barcelona 3-0 Atlético Madrid
Atlético Madrid's patchy recent form
When you look at things on paper, Atlético Madrid actually come into today's game not in great form, by their standards, with three wins and three draws in their last six games. However, their three losses came to Barcelona in the Copa del Rey semifinals (they still qualified for the final), to Tottenham in the Champions League round of 16 (they still qualified for the quarterfinals) and Real Madrid in the Bernabéu. Those three defeats all came away from home, and followed big wins over Barça and Spurs in the first legs of those ties at the Metropolitano.
In LaLiga, it’s a similar recent run, with four wins and three losses in seven games.
Barcelona stars emerge!
Want to see a short clip of asoccer team running out onto the field at the Metropolitano for their warmup? Of course you do! It's obligatory social media and live blog content. So here you go.
X @OrlandoCitySC
Griezmann heading to MLS and Orlando
Griezmann has, of course, been in the news for other reasons of late. You’ll probably be aware the Frenchman is a huge fan of all things American, to such an extent that he hosts his own Spanish-language NFL podcast. Ironically, however, he’s decided that from July he’s moving to play in MLS for Orlando City, where there’s no NFL team. Oops.
OSCAR DEL POZO / AFP
Atlético Madrid legend starts against former team
Atlético Madrid is undoubtedly the team that Antoine Griezmann will be synonymous with for most soccer fans. The Frenchman has had two very successful spells with the club, first between 2014 and 2019, and then from 2021 until today. In almost 500 games for Atleti, he has become their all-time top goalscorer with 211 goals, almost 40 more than anyone else.
In between his two stints in Madrid, however, Griezmann had a less prosperous spell with Barcelona, where his face never really fitted. He did score 35 goals in just over 100 games in Catalonia, hardly a disastrous return, but it was a difficult period for Barça, who were beginning to feel the effects of the financial trouble that would soon be coming their way. Griezmann won a Copa del Rey and that was it before returning to the Spanish capital.
GORKA LEIZA / DIARIO AS
Barcelona dreaming of a double
Unlike Atlético, Barcelona did qualify directly for the last 16 of the Champions League after finishing in the top eight of the league phase. After a 1-1 draw away to Newcastle, Flick’s side thumped the Premier League team 7-2 at Spotify Camp Nou to progress to the quarterfinals with plenty to spare.
A LaLiga-Champions League double, anyone? Stranger things have happened?
LLUIS GENE / AFP
Barcelona come back to beat Atlético in first LaLiga meeting
One team that briefly threatened to destroy that perfect home record was Atlético Madrid, only it really was only briefly. At the start of December, Simeone’s team took a first-half lead at Spotify Camp Nou through Alex Baena, although that lasted for a whole seven minutes until Raphinha levelled the scores. Dani Olmo then put Barça ahead for the first time midway through the second period before Ferran Torres sealed a 3-1 win for the hosts in injury time.
LLUIS GENE / AFP
Barcelona: the LaLiga season so far
Barcelona have won 24 of their 29 LaLiga games to date, with sporadic defeats mingling among relentless winning streaks. Barça’s worst sequence of results saw them lose the first Clásico of the season to Real Madrid three weeks after suffering a shock 4-1 humbling at the hands of Sevilla. Flick’s side has also lost to Real Sociedad and Girona, with all four losses coming in road games. They have a perfect record in 15 home games in LaLiga.
Barcelona vs Atlético Madrid: Copa del Rey semifinals second leg
A 4-0 first-leg win over this Barcelona team, however, is no guarantee. With nothing to lose, Barça poured forward from the off in the second leg and a 2-0 half-time lead, thanks to goals from Marc Bernal and Raphinha, gave themselves more than half a chance to overhaul the first-leg deficit. When Bernal added a third with 20 minutes still left on the clock, the comeback looked inevitable. But a throwback performance in the closing stages saw Atleti just about hang on to the skin of their teeth to reach the Copa del Rey final.
Atlético Madrid vs Barcelona: Copa del Rey semifinals first leg
Speaking of those Copa del Rey semifinal games, here's a little close look at how things went down. Hands up if you saw this one coming. Atlético were 2-0 uo inside 14 minutes thanks to an own goal by Eric García and an Antoine Griezmann strike. The hosts continued their relentless onslaught and two further goals from Ademola Lookman and Julián Álvarez had them 4-0 up at half time. As so often happens after a high-scoring first half, there were no further goals, although Pau Cubarsí’s controversially disallowed second-half goal for Barça ultimately proved decisive in the tie.
LLUIS GENE / AFP
Atlético Madrid up for the cups
As we discussed, Atleti are through to the quarterfinals of the Champions League, although they had to navigate a playoff against Club Brugge to get to the round of 16, where they defeated Spurs, after finishing outside the top eight of the initial league phase. They have also excelled in the Copa del Rey, reaching the final, which they will play against Real Sociedad in Seville on April 18.
Their run to the final included yet another two-legged affair in the semifinals against Barcelona, who they thrashed 4-0 in Madrid before hanging on for dear life at Spotify Camp Nou, where they lost 3-0 for a 4-3 aggregate victory.
JAVIER SORIANO / AFP
Atlético Madrid: LaLiga season so far
Atleti’s hopes of keeping pace with Barcelona and Madrid were doomed almost from the word go in LaLiga this season. Simeone’s team won only one of their first five league games in 2025-26, in which they collected six points. The race was over before it had even begun. Atlético have had some decent runs of form, including an unbeaten streak of 13 games, but their false start just left them with far too much ground to make up.
Red over blue for Barça
As is often the case when they face Atlético Madrid, Barcelona's stars will be pulling on red shorts rather than their usual blue number today. That's down to Atleti, the home team, also opting for blue in their home kit.
VI-Images / VI-Images via Getty Images
Barcelona out to end 11-year Champions League drought
Pretty much every single thing I said there about Atlético in relation to Champions League also applies to Barcelona, since the two tears are facing each other in the quarterfinals. The only difference comes right at the end. Barça have, of course, won the competition, on five occasions to be precise (1992, 2006, 2009, 2011, 2015). That their last victory came 11 years ago tells you plenty about what’s been going on at the club in recent years.
Atlético Madrid team to play Barcelona
Here's the Atleti team to face Barcelona!
Musso; Molina, Le Normand, Lenglet, González; Giuliano, Koke, Vargas, Baena; Griezmann, Almada.
US-born Mexican international Obed Vargas starts in midfield, while MLS-bound Antoine Griezmann will play somewhere between midfield and attack.
Paul Childs / Action Images via Reuters
Atlético's eye on the Champions League
With the full World Cup lineup decided and no more international soccer until the end of the season, the club stuff will be out full focus for the next few weeks. And things promise to be pretty full-on for the big boys. And Atlético Madrid and Barcelona could soon be sick of the sight of one another. After today’s game, the two teams will meet again in the first leg of the Champions League quarterfinals on Wednesday. That’s right, this Wednesday, April 8, at Spotify Camp Nou. The return leg will take place at Estadio Metropolitano on Tuesday, April 14.
If Atlético Madrid get through, they will face either Sporting CP or Arsenal in the semifinals.
Remember, Atleti have never won the Champions League or European Cup, losing finals in 1974, 2014 and 2016.
Rashford starts for Barcelona
Hansi Flick has talked up Marcus Rashford this week, saying Raphinha's absence will give him more responsibility in attack and a chance to step up for the team. The Englishman starts for Barça in Madrid, most likely on the left flank to start with.
Atlético Madrid make us wait...
No Atlético line up has been announced just yet, but I'll bring it to you when I have it.
Barcelona team to play Atlético Madrid
Here we go! This is how Barcelona will line up against Atleti at the Metropolitano:
Joan García; Cancelo, Araújo, Cubarsí, Gerard Martín; Fermín López, Eric Garcia, Pedri; Yamal, Olmo, Rashford.
An immediate return for Eric García, while we'll see who ends up playing as the most central of the three attacking players.
JOSE JORDAN / AFP
Hansi Flick hunts down Pep Guardiola
Hansi Flick has more than a reasonable chance of winning the LaLiga title in each of his first two seasons in charge of Barcelona. Who else has achieved that feat?
Well, it turns out six men have already beaten the German to it, and four them are pretty recent. Enrique Fernández (1948, 1949), Helenio Herrera (1959, 1960), Louis van Gaal (1998, 1999), Luis Enrique (2015, 2016) and Ernesto Valverde (2018, 2019) all started with back-to-back league titles at Barcelona, while Pep Guardiola went one better, winning three successive championships immediately after taking the job. (2009, 2010, 2011)
You might be wondering what those remaining fixtures mean in the context of the title race. Here's a little something I put together earlier, evaluating the run-ins of both Barcelona and Real Madrid from the perspective of how their opponents are performing in LaLiga this season. That said, Madrid have just lost to Mallorca, who were 18th, so maybe we shouldn't read too much into that...
Real Madrid’s remaining LaLiga fixtures
Apr. 4: Mallorca 2-1 Real Madrid
Apr. 10: Real Madrid vs Girona
Midweek of Apr. 22: Real Madrid vs Alavés
Weekend of Apr. 26: Real Betis vs Real Madrid
Weekend of May 3: Espanyol vs Real Madrid
Weekend of May 10: Barcelona vs Real Madrid
Midweek of May 13: Real Madrid vs Real Oviedo
Weekend of May 17: Sevilla vs Real Madrid
Weekend of May 24: Real Madrid vs Athletic
Barcelona’s remaining LaLiga fixtures
Apr. 4: Atlético Madrid vs Barcelona
Apr. 11: Barcelona vs Espanyol
Midweek of Apr. 22: Barcelona vs Celta Vigo
Weekend of Apr. 26: Getafe vs Barcelona
Weekend of May 3: Osasuna vs Barcelona
Weekend of May 10: Barcelona vs Real Madrid
Midweek of May 13: Alavés vs Barcelona
Weekend of May 17: Barcelona vs Real Betis
Weekend of May 24: Valencia vs Barcelona
What's at stake for Barcelona vs Atlético Madrid?
If Barcelona defeat Atlético at Estadio Metropolitano today, they will move seven points clear of Real Madrid and plant their backsides even more firmly in the driving seat than was already the case. That shock loss against Mallorca could really prove fatal as far as Madrid's chances are concerned, giving Barça significantly more room to slip up somewhere along the line.
MANAURE QUINTERO / AFP
Barcelona’s league title prospects better than ever
Barcelona are well and truly in the driving seat as they look to clinch a second successive LaLiga title although there is absolutely no doubt whatsoever that this is one of the most difficult fixtures they have left to play. El Clásico on May 10, which will take place at Spotify Camp Nou, is the other stand-out fixture. Madrid’s defeat to Mallorca means Barça hold a four-point advantage at the top of the standings heading into today’s game, which is their game in hand.
Soccrates Images / Getty Images
Atlético's incredible LaLiga record under Diego Simeone
It’s almost impossible to understate the impact ‘El Cholo’ has had on Atlético since taking charge in December 2011 (yes, he’s been there for more than 14 years). Atleti finished in LaLiga’s top four only twice in the 15 seasons prior to Simeone’s arrival, even spending two seasons in the second division after relegation in 2000.
In the Argentine’s 13 full seasons in charge, Atleti have only once finished outside the top three and defied all the odds to win the title twice (2014 and 2021). Two truly remarkable feats that don’t get the credit they deserve.
What's at stake for Atlético Madrid vs Barcelona?
If Atlético beat Barcelona today, they will move onto 60 points, two clear of Villarreal, who travel to Girona in the last game of Week 30 on Monday. A draw would also see them move ahead of the ‘Yellow Submarine’ on goal difference.
Incidentally, LaLiga uses head-to-head record as the first tiebreaker at the end of the season. Atleti travel to Villarreal on the final matchday, so we don’t yet know which team will hold the tiebreaker. The men from Madrid are in the driving seat as they won 2-0 when the sides met at the Metropolitano in September.
Paul Childs / Action Images via Reuters
Atlético fall well short of LaLiga title tilt
We said Atlético were vaguely hoping to challenge for the LaLiga title, but they’re miles off it, if we’re being honest. Securing Champions League qualification for next season if the next best thing, and they’ve pretty much done that already. As it stands, Spain is on course to secure a fifth Champions League spot for 2026-27, which would see the top five in LaLiga qualify. That could still change between now and the end of the season, but it won’t affect Atleti either way. Simeone’s side are 13 points clear of fifth-placed Real Betis, and 16 points clear of Celta Vigo, who are sixth. We’ll be seeing them in the Champions League are usual next season. The main question is whether they finish third or fourth, although it’s no real biggie.
If you'd like to read about Barcelona's injury troubles, and indeed boosts, in a little bit more detail, then we've got you covered! This is what's been going on over Spotify Camp Nou way this week.
Why isn’t Raphinha playing vs Atlético Madrid?
A superb stat here from LiveScore, which shows just how important a player Raphinha has been for Barcelona this season. Only two defeats in 27 games with him in the team, against five losses in nine matches without him.
Here's more on what's keeping Raphinha out of the trip to the Metropolitano.
Barcelona squad news: Raphinha and de Jong absent
Raphinha and Frenkie De Jong are the key absentees for Barcelona, but Jules Koundé, Alejandro Balde and Eric García are all fit to return and will give Flick extra options in defense.
Atlético Madrid squad news: USMNT's Cardoso, Oblak miss out
Anyway, back to our game and the Atlético Madrid squad.
USMNT international Johnny Cardoso is out, as are first-choice goalkeeper Jan Oblak, defender Marc Pubill and midfielder Rodri Mendoza.
Alexander Sorloth has been a doubt all week after taking a blow to the head during the international break and might not start as a result.
This, to me at least, feels like a potentially fatal blow for Real Madrid in the title race. Álvaro Arbeloa's team went 1-0 downagainst relegation-threatened Mallorca just before halftime and huffed and puffed in an attempt to come back into the game. When they finally levelled through Eder Militão with three minutes to go, you expected Madrid to go on and get a second. Instead, it was Mallorca who immediately restored their lead and saw the game out. A huge result for both teams, for very different reasons.
Barcelona in LaLiga: as it stands
As I mentioned a couple of posts ago, Barcelona are sitting prettier than ever at the top of LaLiga. Hansi Flick's lads hold a four-point lead over Real Madrid, with nine games left to play. Madrid, meanwhile, have just eight fixtures left as they slipped up against Mallorca earlier on Saturday. More on how that one unfolded in just a second. On top of all that, we can’t forget that the second league Clásico of the season is scheduled for May 10, which is Week 35 of 38. Squeaky bum time has arrived and every point counts.
| T | MP | W | D | L | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 73 | 29 | 24 | 1 | 4 |
| 2 | 69 | 30 | 22 | 3 | 5 |
| 3 | 58 | 29 | 18 | 4 | 7 |
| 4 | 57 | 29 | 17 | 6 | 6 |
| 5 | 45 | 30 | 11 | 12 | 7 |
Why Atlético Madrid are nicknamed ‘Los Colchoneros’ (‘The Mattress Makers’)
It's all about that kit. Remember when mattresses were covered in red and white striped material? No, me neither. But apparently that was the case in Spain during the civil war era (1936 to 1939). The physical similarities between said mattresses and the Atlético Madrid home kit were such, apparently, that thousands of Spaniards ended up mistakenly sleeping on Atleti shirts.
Atlético Madrid in LaLiga: as it stands
As is the case every year, Atlético Madrid - or Atleti to you and me - started the season hoping to hang onto the coattails of Real Madrid and Barcelona, LaLiga's almost inevitable top two. Simeone’s boys have managed it sporadically over the years, even managing to surpass them twice, but not this time. 'Los Colchoneros’ (‘The Mattress Makers,’ more on that nickname in a moment) are 16 points adrift of leaders Barça and 12 behind Madrid. That means they aren’t even in third place in the table, as they trail Villarreal by a point.
| T | MP | W | D | L | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 69 | 30 | 22 | 3 | 5 |
| 3 | 58 | 29 | 18 | 4 | 7 |
| 4 | 57 | 29 | 17 | 6 | 6 |
| 5 | 44 | 29 | 11 | 11 | 7 |
| 6 | 41 | 30 | 11 | 8 | 11 |
What time does Atlético Madrid vs Barcelona kick off?
The game in Madrid gets underway at 9:00 p.m. local time. I make that 3:00 p.m. ET and 12:00 p.m. PT. What better way to wash down your lunch if you're in the east, or whet your appetite if you’re in the west? If you’re somewhere in the middle, que aproveche.
There’s a little over 90 minutes to go until kickoff, stay tuned for some news, stats, facts,and probably a bit of nonsense before the game gets underway.
GORKA LEIZA / DIARIO AS
Hello and welcome to live text coverage of Atlético Madrid vs Barcelona in LaLiga!
Hello and welcome to live text coverage of today’s huge/enormous/gigantic/insert appropriate adjective LaLiga clash between Atlético Madrid and Barcelona at the Estadio Metropolitano in Madrid. There’s an awful lot at stake for the Catalans as they look to beat Real Madrid, who lost earlier today, to a second consecutive league title. Atleti absolutely do not want their city rivals to win said league title but this is a Diego Simeone team, so you can bet your bottom dollar they’ll be going all out for a big home victory (and keep everything crossed that Madrid slip up - again - somewhere else).
I'm Roddy and I'll be describing (almost) every kick of the ball to you from the Spanish capital.
Complete your personal details to comment