Soccer Odds & Expert Betting Pick: FC Barcelona vs. Atletico Madrid

The top two teams in La Liga and favorites at the Soccer Odds to win it will face off on Sunday at Camp Nou in Barcelona. This is the reverse fixture from their meeting back in October when the teams drew 1-1 in Madrid. Atletico Madrid sits seven points behind Barcelona in the table, but they have come on strong lately, winning seven matches in a row. Barcelona has won three of their last six matches in all competitions and has not lost in their last ten games. However, Atletico Madrid last beat Barcelona in La Liga play in 2006, having dropped eight of their last 11 meetings. Given that the last four matches between the two sides have produced six red cards, expect some fireworks on Sunday. Check out our soccer betting preview for this terrific tilt.

Soccer Odds & Expert Betting Pick: FC Barcelona vs. Atletico Madrid

🔊 @Dembouz had plenty to say in an interview with ‘Onze Mondial’. We’ve picked out the best bits for you 🔵🔴 #ForçaBarça https://t.co/54VYdyn8CS

— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) 1 de marzo de 2018

• When: Sunday, March 4, 2018, 10:15 am ET
• Where: Camp Nou, Madrid
• TV: beIN Sports
• Live Stream: fubo.tv
• Soccer Odds: FC Barcelona 8/13, Draw 3/1, Atletico Madrid 4/1, O/U 2.5

Recent Head to Head (Last 5 Games)

• Atletico Madrid 1 – FC Barcelona 1
• Atletico Madrid 1 – FC Barcelona 2
• FC Barcelona 1 – Atletico Madrid 1
• Atletico Madrid 1 – FC Barcelona 2
• FC Barcelona 1 – Atletico Madrid 1

Why should you bet on Barcelona?

In the 12 home matches that Barcelona has played in La Liga this season, they are unbeaten, with 10 wins and a pair of draws. Barcelona comes in off the momentum of a 6-1 shellacking of Girona in their last La Liga match at home. Girona opened with a shocking goal to wake up the hosts, and then it just went downhill from there for the visitors, as Messi put up a brace and Luis Suarez posted a hat trick. In these 12 games, Barcelona has permitted just six goals, but they have averaged more than three goals per contest. The domination doesn’t end there, though. Barcelona did surrender that early goal to Girona, but that has not been their form this year. They have scored first in eight of their home matches, and in five of those home matches, they have gone into halftime with a 2-0 lead. Messi has 22 goals in La Liga play — 14 of them coming on the home pitch. So if Atletico comes out with a lack of energy, Barcelona could have them on their backs quickly.

Possible Line-Up

• 1-M. ter Stegen
• 3-G. Piqué
• 18-J. Alba
• 23-S. Umtiti
• 8-A. Iniesta
• 4-I. Rakitić
• 15-Paulinho
• 5-S. Busquets
• 20-S. Roberto
• 10-L. Messi
• 9-L. Suárez

Why should you put your money on Atletico Madrid?

Atletico only has one road loss in La Liga play this season, and that happened on December 22 at Espanyol. They have a 9-3-1 road record, and they have Diego Costa back up front and paired with Antoine Griezmann, they have a formidable attack. This is a team that grinds the opposition down and gets chances after wearing away the opposing defense, rather than striking at lightning speed like Barcelona. Their defense has stood tall, as they have only permitted seven goals in their 12 road games while averaging almost two tallies per contest. They’ve posted clean sheets in over half their away games. But can they do this at Barcelona? Atletico does have a solid winning streak going, and the draws that Barcelona has taken have shown a lack of energy at crucial points. That rout of Girona, though, might have been the turning point that the Catalans needed. If you like Atletico here, you see their grinding attack wearing on the patience of Barcelona and the Catalans giving up a goal or two in response.

• 13-J. Oblak
• 3-F. Luis
• 2-D. Godín
• 16-Š. Vrsaljko
• 24-J. Giménez
• 14-Gabi
• 8-Saúl
• 6-Koke
• 5-T. Partey
• 18-D. Costa
• 7-A. Griezmann

Expert Pick and Final Score Prediction

This is going to be a close match if the series follows form. The teams have not played to a scoreless draw since 2013 when they met in the second leg of the Spanish Super Cup. So expect some offense. However, expect the margins to be thin, as eight of the last nine meetings have either been draws or decided by just one goal. The exception came in 2015 when Barcelona beat Atletico by a 3-1 margin. This time, I see Barcelona prevailing by the score of 2 to 1 and moving to a ten-point lead in the La Liga standings.