Barça looks to Pedri to be reborn against Atlético
The ‘culers’ seek to end the ‘dragon colchonero’ on Sant Jordi
BARCELONA, 22 Abr. (EUROPA PRESS) –
FC Barcelona receives Atlético de Madrid this Sunday at the Spotify Camp Nou (4:15 p.m.), on matchday 30 of LaLiga Santander, in a duel between first and third in which the blaugrana hope to recover their enthusiasm with the return of Pedri and knock down some ‘colchoneros’ who are in good shape and who continue to stalk the second position, in the hands of Real Madrid.
There is more at stake at the Camp Nou than meets the eye. Barça, after two goalless draws, need to win so as not to give their eternal rival the option of getting closer in the table and start dreaming of a comeback. And, for Atlético, attacking the Blaugrana fiefdom would be a boost to morale in the fight for second place.
Both will know what Real Madrid will have done at home against Celta on Saturday night. So the pressure that some and others may have may be different depending on the result at the Santiago Bernabéu. But whatever happens, the objective of Barça and Atlético is the same; gain.
The day began with those 11 points difference with respect to the whites, but Barça knows that allowing the rival to get closer would be more than dangerous, with still 8 days pending. But, above all, against Atlético de Madrid they must meet again with the goal, with the effectiveness lost.
The goalless draws against Girona and Getafe, plus the 0-4 defeat against Real Madrid in the Copa del Rey, leave Barça without scoring in the last 3 games. So much for Xavi Hernández’s team. Hence the importance of recovering Pedri’s magic and the arrival from the second row, although he could exploit it much more, of Frenkie de Jong.
Both are the positive sides of the coin, the two injured who return to the team and who could also be starters. On the contrary, Ousmane Dembélé does not recover in time, despite training with the group, and continues to be low along with Andreas Christensen and Sergi Roberto.
But Pedri, due to his lack of shape, could provide that light that Barça needs so much. That pass between the lines, that seeing what many others don’t see. Without a doubt, it would be a help for a Robert Lewandowski who is a lighthouse turned off on point. That he lives too alone at the top in the last games. Hence, some also smile when they see the pearl Lamine Yamal, 15, called up. Will he play?
At home, yes, but Barça once again faces schedules that Xavi doesn’t like. He doesn’t want to play in the sun, neither at noon nor at siesta time. Again, 4:15 p.m. and let’s see if he makes excuses for it again, or not. What many people criticize in Barcelona is playing in the Diada de Sant Jordi, a much-loved ‘festivity’ in Catalonia.
Opposite, a ‘dragon’ called Atlético de Madrid. One of the fittest teams at the moment, which comes to Barcelona after winning the last six games in LaLiga Santander. The last one, at home against Almería (2-1). And winning in Girona (0-1) and Vallecas (1-2). Those of Diego Pablo Simeone know that if there is a good time to visit Barcelona, it is this.
Since February 2006, Atlético has not won at the Camp Nou in the League. Although they started two draws in 2020 and 2021, and the last precedent was a 4-2 last year. Now, with the effectiveness of ex-Blaugrana Antoine Griezmann, and the good group atmosphere, they want to put an end to the bad run of results in the Blaugrana fiefdom.
The one who will not be at the Spotify Camp Nou is the also ex-Blaugrana Memphis Depay, injured just like Reinildo. And, due to suspension, Marcos Llorente and Geoffrey Kondogbia will not play. On the other hand, Simeone recovers Stefan Savic for the defensive axis.
DATASHEET.
–POSSIBLE ALIGNMENTS.
FC BARCELONA: Ter Stegen; Kound, Araujo, Eric Garcia, Bucket; Busquets, Pedri, De Jong; Raphinha, Lewandowski and Gavi.
ATHLETIC MADRID: Oblak; Molina, Savic, Gimenez, Hermoso, Carrasco; Koke, Lemar, DePaul; Griezmann and Correa.
–REFEREE: Sánchez Martínez (C. Murciano).
–STADIUM: Spotify Camp Nou.
–TIME: 16.15/Movistar LaLiga TV.