Champions League
2014-04-01 - Barcelona vs Atletico Madrid
A Sports Betting Pick by Cruiser
Football : UEFA Champions League
Venue: Nou Camp, Barcelona
1st April 2014 – Kickoff time 20:45
This is a Spanish heavyweight and also a clash of the Top two in the Spanish La Liga as Barcelona welcome the visit of Atletico Madrid for the first leg of the Champions League quarter-finals.
Barcelona are looking for their 17th appearance in a row in the semi finals and their experience could be the telling factor here. The last time Atletico were at this stage was all the way back in 1997. Also the Catalan giants hold a strong head to head record against Atletico, W60 D25 L19 so that will also give them a strong advantage over the La Liga leaders now.
These two sides have already met earlier in the season and they could not be separated as they drew 0-0 at the Vicente Calderon back in January. The last time they went up against one another at the Nou Camp in the league was back in December of 2012, with Barcelona winning that clash 4-1. Lionel Messi scored twice in that match and he will be a favourite to hit the back of the net in this match. In the Spanish Super Cup held last year August they also played to a goalless 0-0 draw.
Lionel Messi has scored 67 goals in the Champions League in 84 Champions League matches. He’s catching up on Raul’s record of 71 goals in 142 appearances in the competition. And to date Messi has scored in five successive Champions League appearances now. We have to remember that Barcelona have not lost a match in the quarter finals of the Champions League since back in 2003, winning eight and drawing six of their games since then.
But it should be stressed here that Barcelona have only won two of their previous six Champions League matches against fellow Spanish sides (W2 D2 L2) Barcelona starts as favourites here after the 4-3 win they managed at the Santiago Bernabeu against Real Madrid.
However, do not discount Atletico Madrid. They are leading the La Liga and they have won seven, drawn one and lost none of their eight matches in the Champions League this season. There has been no other team that has won more games in the Champions League then them. Along the way to the quarter-finals they have only conceded four goals, which is also the best record among the eight sides in the competition.
Against fellow Spanish sides, they are also having a bit of form. They have won all three in a row against Spanish sides in Europe. All of those came in the 2011/12 Europa League, when Atletico won the title. But this is the furtherst they have been in the Champions League and they may be a little lacking of experience compared to Barcelona.
The player to watch out for will be Diego Costa. He has scored seven goals in five Champions League appearances this season. Atletico Madrid are also ina bit of form, they have won their last six matches in a row in all competitions, conceding just two goals in those six matches.
Form:
Barcelona - LWWWWW
Atletico Madrid - WWWWWW
Prediction:
It will be a battle between Lionel Messi and Diego Costa, but when you consider that their awesome firepower they have actually finished all three meetings (two in the Spanish Super Cup, one La Liga) this season under 2.5 goals.
Go for this match to finish UNDER 2.5 goals.
The Statistics :
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The Pick :
Barcelona 1-1 Atletico Madrid
