WHO: Barcelona vs Atletico Madrid
What: Spain’s La Liga
where: Camp Nou, Barcelona
when: Tuesday at 9pm (20:00 GMT)
How to follow: We’ll turn on all the build-ups Al Jazeera Sports From 17:00 GMT in advance of our live text commentary stream.
Barcelona and Atletico Madrid are looking to put a marker in their respective title aspirations as the sides meet at the Camp Nou for a midweek blockbuster.
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Barca remain precariously at the top of La Liga by one point from second-placed Real Madrid coming from behind To beat Alaves at the weekend for a fourth league win in a row.
Fourth-placed Atletico moved three points clear of Barcelona with a 2-0 home win over Real Oviedo at the weekend.
After a 4-0 defeat at Arsenal in October, Atletico have won seven games in a row in all competitions.
And as Real Madrid were held to a third consecutive La Liga tie by a 1-1 draw at lowly Girona on Sunday, Barcelona and Atletico hope they can capitalize on their rivals’ dip in form.
The win over Alaves left the fumes behind
Despite the 3-1 win over Alaves, Barcelona boss Hansi Flick appeared close to tears after the game and was comforted by winger Rafinha.
Flick later stated that he was angered by some of the officials during the game, including the referee’s decision to red card two members of his staff.
“I had a lack of communication. I asked the fourth official what happened, and he didn’t tell me anything,” Flick said after the game, adding that it was a “local issue.”
But Flick also expressed other frustrations beyond refereeing.
“We don’t have the control we had last season,” he said. “We have to improve and we can improve a lot.”
Rafinha told reporters that “Flick believes we are not playing at our best and I agree”.
“Still, the important thing today is to win. We know we are not at our best, but we are working and I am sure we will play our best this season,” he added.
🚨 Hansi Flick: “After the match, Rafinha was telling me what I said last time: we will improve. We will be very good in the upcoming matches”.
🎥 @DAZN_ES pic.twitter.com/vjJaZJdV3e
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) 29 November 2025
Rafinha returns to the song
A key player in Barcelona’s domestic title double last season, Rafinha made his first start against Alaves in two months after recovering from a hamstring injury.
He scored the opening two goals, twice running behind the defense on the left side of the area in the eighth and 26th minutes before Lamin squared passes to Yamal and Dani Olmo.
Olmo scored the third goal in stoppage time as he worked a one-two passing combination with Yamal before firing home.
Flick praised Rafinha for his efforts in attack and defence, noting that his pressing was contagious among his teammates.
“Rafa is a dynamic player,” Flick said. “We missed him.”
Atlético beat them
Alexander Sorloth’s first-half brace earned Atletico Madrid a 2-0 win over Real Oviedo on Saturday, as Diego Simeone’s side remained unbeaten in 13 league games after three points from Espanyol and trailing Barca on opening day.
Sorloth scored from close range after 16 minutes and David Hankow scored both goals 10 minutes later.
After an inconsistent start to the campaign, Simeone’s side have found their groove.
“I think now we are working well not only defensively but also offensively,” goalkeeper Jan Oblak told DAZN.
“The truth is, we’re playing well, but we have to keep it up because the past doesn’t matter. The future matters.”
Simeon says that breaking records without a title is meaningless
Atlético became the first team in La Liga history to score first in their opening 14 matches; However, coach Simone said he is more concerned with trophies than records.
“I don’t value it that much,” Simone said.
“I wish it would win you the title, but it won’t. It’s a compliment. Any further comments will depend on what we do against Barca.
“We won a match that we wanted to win, and now we have a very tough, tough match, against an opponent that we know very well and who has a lot of potential, even more so with the return of Pedri and Rafinha. We will face a very tough opponent.”
head-to-head
The two clubs have met 246 times, with Barca winning 112 of Atlético’s 77, while 57 have been drawn.
Barcelona have fared much better in recent La Liga encounters, with the hosts looking to record a seventh win in their last eight league matches.
But Atlético won 2–1 at Barcelona in December 2024, with goals from Rodrigo de Paul and Sorloth.
Barcelona team news
In-form midfielder Fermin Lopez is set to miss a second consecutive game with a calf problem, while fellow midfielder Gavi and goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen remain out through injury.
Defender Ronald Araujo missed Saturday’s game against Alaves due to illness and is likely to miss out again.
Barca will receive a significant boost as Pedri, Jules Conde and Frenkie de Jong return to action, while Erik Garcia is expected to be available despite being forced off at half-time against Alaves.
Predicted Barcelona starting XI
Joan Garcia; Kaunde, Eric Garcia, Cubercy, Balde; De Jong, Pedri; Yamal, Olmo, Rafinha; Lewandowski
Atlético team news
Midfielder Marcos Llorente missed his third game in a row with a groin injury, while center Robin Le Normand is out as he recovers from a knee problem.
Despite scoring a brace against Ovidio, Sorloth will have to be content to impress off the bench as Julian Alvarez looks to lead the way.
Atletico’s predicted starting XI
cloud; Molina, Gimenez, Hanko, Ruggeri; Cardoso; Simeon, Barrios, Koke, Bayana; Alvarez