Ernesto Valverde’s team remain unbeaten in their domestic division but now own just a five-point advantage ahead of hosting second-placed Atletico Madrid on Sunday. The points are important for what they could mean and [also] to stop the gap being cut even more. “Atletico always tries to surprise with a high pressure, trying to make the mark from the beginning, we’ll see how it goes, but it’s an attractive match in which the three points are worth a lot”.
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Barcelona says it has sent a signed team jersey to the student who was credited with saving the lives of at least 20 other students during a school massacre in the United States two weeks ago. The teams drew 1-1 at Stamford Bridge in the first leg.
“At Atlético he has a whole team playing for him and he is very happy”. Now that title could be on the line.
Atletico Madrid head coach Diego Simeone feels Diego Costa’s return to the LaLiga title chasers has revitalised the club’s main attacking talisman.
Valverde will lean on Luis Suarez and Lionel Messi to break down Atletico’s league-best defense on Sunday.
Ximo Navarro’s cynical foul from behind did not force Messi to go down but he won the free-kick anyway, and Barca’s talisman rifled the ball into the opposite top corner to leave Chichizola with no chance.
Simeone said Atletico are not preparing strategies to defend themselves from Lionel Messi.
Griezmann’s recent performances have put him in good terms with Atletico fans who had jeered him after his struggles earlier this season.
Atletico, meanwhile, were in action at home to Leganes on Wednesday and won that match 4-0, with all four goals scored by Antoine Griezmann.
It is no coincidence Griezmann’s surge has quickened since the arrival of Diego Costa, whose willingness to engage defenders in the grittier side of the game has allowed his partner the freedom to flourish. Suarez and Messi combined for five goals in Barcelona 6-1 win against Girona last weekend.
Barcelona will field their strongest starting 11 with the only doubt being whether Phillipe Coutinho, Ousman Dembele or Paulinho completes a midfield containing Andres Iniesta, Sergio Busquets and Ivan Rakitic.
The France forward is peaking at the best possible moment, just before the decisive match against Spanish league leader Barcelona.
For his part, Griezmann is simply focused on scoring a first career goal at one of football’s most celebrated arenas, telling reporters “I really want to score and celebrate it on Sunday”.
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Of course, the rivalry towards Los Colchoneros and the Blaugrana isn’t as deep as when it comes to Real Madrid, but the importance of this fixture is far from being underestimated.
