Champions League
2026-04-08 - Barcelona vs Atletico Madrid
A Sports Betting Pick by Auls
Football: UEFA Champions League Quarter Final First Leg
Wednesday 8th April 2026 - Kick Off 8pm
This game is live on TV
Barcelona
A late goal allowed Barcelona to pick up three priceless points in the La Liga title race and ensured they took full advantage of Real Madrid's slip on the same day. The victory over Atletico Madrid gives Barcelona something of a mental advantage ahead of this Champions League Quarter Final and the key is to have a lead to take into the Second Leg back in the Spanish capital.
The Catalan giants may not have the same kind of European history as rivals Real Madrid, but Barcelona always feel like contenders in the Champions League. Eleven years have passed since they last won the competition and Barcelona have not reached a Final since then, but they have reached the Quarter Final in 2024 and Semi Final in 2025 and will be expecting to progress one step further.
Barcelona are unbeaten in 9 games in all competitions and they have won 8 of those matches, including the last 4 in a row thanks to the victory at Atletico Madrid this past weekend. They crushed Newcastle United in the Last 16 of the Champions League and Barcelona have won 17 games in succession at the Camp Nou.
Marc Bernal is a doubt, but Ronald Araujo is expected to be available. Raphinha picked up a knock on international duty and is the big miss for the home team.
Atletico Madrid
Questions persist about the future of Diego Simeone as manager of Atletico Madrid and he will be desperate to finally help this club get over the line and win the Champions League. They did reach two Finals in three years between 2014 and 2016, but Atletico Madrid were very unfortunate to lose both against rivals Real Madrid.
They have failed to reach the Semi Final in the Champions League since 2017 when Atletico Madrid were beaten by Real Madrid again, while twelve months ago the side were knocked out by that rival once more in the Last 16 on Penalties. While on course to return to the Champions League through the La Liga form, Atletico Madrid have slipped from the levels being produced by Real and Barcelona, while they have won 1 of the 6 away Champions League games played this season.
Atletico Madrid looked to be building momentum with 6 wins from 7 games played in all competitions, but the 3-2 loss at Tottenham Hotspur in the Champions League Last 16 Second Leg has sparked a run of 3 straight defeats. Not only have Atletico Madrid lost 3 away games in a row in all competitions, but they have conceded three times in each of those defeats at Barcelona, Tottenham Hotspur and Real Madrid.
Nico Gonzalez was sent off in the League game against Barcelona, but will be available for this fixture. Julian Alvarez should be restored to the starting eleven.
Head to Head
Barcelona's win over Atletico Madrid on Saturday means they have completed the League double over this opponent.
However, it is Atletico Madrid who beat Barcelona 4-3 on aggregate in the Copa Del Rey Semi Final.
Both games hosted by Barcelona have ended in victories for the home team and they have scored three goals in each of those.
Barcelona have won 5 of the last 7 when hosting Atletico Madrid and suffered a single loss in that run.
In two previous European ties, both have ended with Atletico Madrid progressing in the 2014 and 2016 Champions League.
Prediction
This is a Champions League Quarter Final and so there is a different pressure on the shoulders of the players, but the familiarity of Barcelona and Atletico Madrid with one another should mean things settle into a rhythm pretty quickly.
Diego Simeone has led Atletico Madrid to Champions League Quarter Final wins over Barcelona in 2014 and 2016 and in both seasons his team reached the Final before being undone by rivals Real Madrid.
There will be some confidence with that in mind, while Atletico Madrid have already won a two Legged Copa Del Rey Semi Final against Barcelona.
Raphinha's absence is a big blow for the home team, but Barcelona will take plenty of confidence out of the 1-2 win over Atletico Madrid on the return from the March international break. They also benefit from having Atletico Madrid play for a long stretch with ten men and Barcelona have already beaten this opponent twice at home this season.
Those results are hard to ignore with Barcelona scoring three times in both wins and putting a long winning run together in front of the home fans.
Add to that the fact that Atletico Madrid have lost 3 away games in a row in all competitions and conceded three in each of those defeats and you have to favour Barcelona to have some sort of lead to protect in the Second Leg next week.
The Cup tie setting will add some pressure, but it did not see either team hold back in the Copa Del Rey, even if you have to accept there is a lot more on the line in the Champions League Quarter Final.
Barcelona will play one way and look to push forward and have shown they can create quality looks against this Atletico Madrid team that is not nearly as defensively sound as they were a few years ago under this manager.
It should be entertaining for those tuning in and Barcelona can use their firepower to win a game in which they score at least twice, even without Raphinha in the squad.
The Statistics :
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The Pick :
Barcelona 3-1 Atletico Madrid
