Match Preview: Thursday 21/12/2006 22:00 (GMT +1): La Liga, Match Day 16
FC BARCELONA - ATLETICO MADRID

Camp Nou, Barcelona – Capacity: 99.000
Referee: Luis Medina Cantalejo


Probable Line-Up:

FC Barcelona (4-3-3): Valdés - Belletti, Thuram, Puyol, Oleguer (Olmo) - Motta, Iniesta (Xavi), Deco - Giuly, Gudjohnsen, Ronaldinho - Manager: Frank Rijkaard


Atletico Madrid (4-4-2): Leo Franco - Seitaridis, Zé Castro, Pablo , Pernía - Luccin, Galletti, Maniche, Antonio López, - Agüero, Torres - Manager: Javier Aguirre


Match Preview:
FC Barcelona (2nd on 33 points) meet long term rivals Atletico Madrid (5th on 27 points) at Camp Nou. Usually, when both teams meet at Camp Nou, we witness a lot of goals, a lot of cards (yellow and red) and an exciting encounter. But this time, I am sceptical about a great show. FC Barcelona returns from a very tiring trip to Japan without the euphoria of a great tile win and only 4 days to recover and adapt to the time zone again. As a result, Barca has to play without Italian world champion Gianluca Zambrotta due to injury and have to rest Marquez, Gio and Edmilson and therefore included youngsters Jsus Olmo and Marc Crosas.


FC Barcelona have travelled to Japan as La Liga leaders but return to action as second but with 1 moore match to play. Barca has only dropped a few points this season but the competing teams at the top of the table have found some consistency and also win their games in this period.


For FC Barcelona this is a crucial time. The team has to forget about the disappointment of not winning the only major trophy that is missing in Barca´s trophy room and have to pick themselves back up and return to the ordinary day-to-day action of La Liga. It is vital to win against Atletico Madrid, who actually have a relative good record at Camp Nou, for several reason. A win would let the team forget about the disappointing defeat by Internacional, FC Sevilla would not gain ground at the top of La Primera Liga, if they win and it would wipe out Atletico´s last chance to keep touch to the top teams of the table.


Last season, Atletico managed to win against Barca at Vicente Calderon and in Camp Nou with Fernando Torres both times the man of the match (in total 3 goals). This year Atlético performs well away from home, while remaining extremely inconsistent in their own stadium Vicente Calderon.

Atletico´s coach Javier Aguirre will field a strong defence and a quick counter-attacking side, to surprise a Barca team that will be tired and like to attack in front of their demanding home crowd.


FC Barcelona coach Rijkaard will rest Rafael Márquez, Edmílson and Gio, while Gianluca Zambrotta picked up an injury and Sylvinho is suspended. Therefore Rijkaard called up youngsters Jésus Olmo and Marc Crosas. the positive news is that Argentinian striker Javier Saviola is back after fully recovering from an injury that sidelined the "Rabbit" since Mid-October.


Except the long term injuries, Atletico has no doubtful players for the Barca encounter. The only question is, if Agüero or Mista will partner "El Nino" Torres up front. I predict, it will be Agüero.


My Prediction:
This match is very important for Barca at this stage of the season. The last match of the year has to be won before the team go into the 2 weeks recuperation time over the festive period.

FC Barcelona are favourites, despite a tiring travel to the other end of the world. I am not sure, if we see the usual exciting clash but I am absolutely confinced that the team lift themselves up from the disappointing defeat against Internacional last Sunday and will add 3 more points to their account. I guess we see rather a 1-0 instead of a 5-4!
It would be great for Barca to go with a win (and as leaders) into the festive break.


FC Barcelona - Atletico Madrid 1-0



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