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Barcelona logo
La Liga
Jan 11, 2015 at 8pm UK
 
Atletico Madrid logo

3-1

Neymar (12'), Suarez (35'), Messi (87')
FT(HT: 2-0)
Mandzukic (57' pen.)

Preview: Barcelona vs. Atletico Madrid

Sports Mole previews the La Liga showdown between Barcelona and Atletico Madrid.

Barcelona striker Lionel Messi is expected to start against Atletico Madrid on Sunday despite doubts emerging about his future at the club.

Reports have suggested that Messi is open to a move away from Camp Nou after disagreements with coach Luis Enrique, but after the Argentine returned to the starting lineup against Elche on Thursday, he should feature against the La Liga champions.

Neymar is also likely to take his place alongside Messi and Luis Suarez in attack, while Andreas Iniesta could start after remaining on the bench in midweek.

Despite the reported unrest at the club, the Catalan giants sit just one point behind leaders Real Madrid in the league standings.

After an ineffective performance in the Copa del Rey in midweek, Fernando Torres is likely to find himself on the substitutes' bench on Sunday night.

That should result in a return to the team for Mario Mandzukic, while Koke and Arda Turan may be recalled in place of Antoine Griezmann and Saul Niguez, but defender Miranda is an injury doubt.

After a setback against Villarreal, three successive wins have boosted confidence at the Vicente Calderon with the club now sitting just a point off first place.

Barcelona:

Form in La Liga: WWWDWL
Form in all competitions: WDWWLW

Possible starting lineup: Bravo, Pique, Bartra, Alba, Alves, Iniesta, Rakitic, Mascherano, Messi, Neymar, Suarez

Atletico Madrid:

Form in La Liga: WWWLWW
Form in all competitions: DLDWWW

Possible starting lineup: Oblak; Gamez, Godin, Gimenez, Siqueira; Suarez, Gabi; Koke, Garcia, Turan; Mandzukic

Sports Mole says: 1-1


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Darren Plant
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Antoine Griezmann of Atletico de Madrid celebrates scoring their opening goal during the La Liga match Levante UD on January 3, 2015
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Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Atletico MadridAtletico18125133122141
2Real Madrid18124241182340
3Barcelona19122551222938
4Athletic Bilbao19106329171236
5Villarreal188643430430
6Mallorca199371921-230
7Real Sociedad187471613325
8GironaGirona187472625125
9Real BetisBetis186752122-125
10Osasuna186752327-425
11Celta Vigo187382728-124
12Rayo Vallecano185762021-122
13Las PalmasLas Palmas186482327-422
14Sevilla186482027-722
15Leganes184681728-1118
16AlavesAlaves184592130-917
17Getafe183781115-416
18Espanyol1843111630-1415
19Valencia172691626-1012
20Real ValladolidValladolid1833121237-2512


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