La Liga's top two meet in the Champions League on Tuesday evening as Barcelona welcome Atletico Madrid to the Camp Nou for the first leg of their quarter-final clash.

A remarkable season for Atletico has left the capital outfit one point clear of second-place and current champions Barcelona at the top of the Spanish table with seven games remaining.

However, both sides must now switch their attention to European matters, with Barcelona setting their sights on their seventh successive semi-final appearance in the Champions League.

Atletico, meanwhile, have not reached this stage of the competition since 1997. However, they are one of just two teams – the other being capital rivals Real Madrid – that are still unbeaten in Europe this season.

The pair have met three times in two separate competitions this season, with each of the clashes ending in draws. Both legs of the Spanish Super Cup earlier in the campaign finished level, before Barcelona drew 0-0 at the Calderon in La Liga earlier this season.

Barcelona enter the match off the back of five successive wins in all competitions, including recent success over Real Madrid in El Clasico, but Atletico have also won their last five, conceding just twice during that run of impressive results.

The home side will be without the services of first-choice goalkeeper Victor Valdes, who will miss the remainder of the season with a serious knee injury. Centre-back Carlos Puyol, meanwhile, is expected to miss out as the Spaniard continues to suffer with a knee problem.

Boss Gerardo Martino has no fresh injury concerns from the victory over Espanyol on Saturday, however, and must decide who misses out in attack. Lionel Messi is expected to lead the line, but one or possibly two from Neymar, Alexis Sanchez and Pedro will start on the bench at the Camp Nou.

Atletico, meanwhile, will be without the suspended Raul Garcia. Young right-back Javi Manquillo is also unavailable, but Diego Simeone has almost a full complement of players to choose from. David Villa is pushing for a recall against his former club and is expected to start alongside Arda Turan and leading scorer Diego Costa.

Recent form

Barcelona: WWWWW

Atletico: WWWWW

Possible starting lineups

Barcelona: Pinto; Alves, Mascherano, Pique, Alba; Busquets, Iniesta, Xavi; Sanchez, Messi, Neymar

Atletico: Courtois; Juanfran, Miranda, Godin, Luis; Gabi, Koke, Suarez; Turan, Costa, Villa

Sports Mole says: 1-1

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