Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys will play host to a standout Copa del Rey semi-final first leg on Tuesday evening, with Barcelona welcoming La Liga title rivals Atletico Madrid to their temporary home.
Barcelona are the most successful side in the history of the Copa del Rey, lifting the trophy on 31 occasions, while Atletico are 10-time winners, with the capital team fourth in the all-time list behind Barcelona, Athletic Bilbao (24) and Real Madrid (20).
Match preview
© Imago
It would be fair to say that the Copa del Rey is third in the list of priorities for Barcelona in the final months of the season, with the Catalan outfit currently top of the La Liga table and present in the last-16 stage of the Champions League.
However, this is Barcelona's competition, winning the trophy on 31 occasions, and they are aiming to lift the trophy for the first time since 2020-21, so there is plenty on the line for Hansi Flick's side.
Blaugrana have beaten Barbastro, Real Betis and Valencia to secure their spot in the semi-finals, scoring 14 times in the process, and they will bring a 13-game unbeaten run in all competitions into this fixture.
Barcelona have won their last five, including a 2-0 success over Las Palmas on Saturday, with the result leaving them at the top of the La Liga table, ahead of second-placed Real Madrid on the head-to-head record.
Flick's team will tackle Real Sociedad in La Liga next weekend before heading to Portugal for the first leg of their last-16 Champions League fixture against Benfica, and their performances in Europe this term have made them one of the favourites for the famous trophy.
The second leg of this semi-final will not actually take place until the start of April, and with so much football to come before then, both teams will be desperate to pick up a positive result on Tuesday night.
© Imago
Atletico are also having an outstanding campaign, with Diego Simeone's side also through to the last-16 stage of the Champions League, where Real Madrid are waiting.
The Red and Whites are firmly in the La Liga title picture, meanwhile, sitting third in the table, just one point behind Barcelona, and they were 3-0 winners over Valencia in Spain's top flight on Sunday.
Atletico are unbeaten in their last eight matches in all competitions, and they also have a huge few weeks, facing Athletic Bilbao in La Liga next weekend before tackling Real Madrid in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 fixture.
The capital outfit have not actually won the Copa del Rey since 2013, and like Barcelona, they will view this trophy as third on their list of priorities, but it might be the most winnable competition for the team in the closing stages of the season.
Atletico beat Barcelona 2-1 in La Liga earlier this season, with that success following five straight losses to the Catalan outfit.
Tuesday's contest will be their first meeting in the Copa del Rey since the semi-finals of the 2016-17 competition, with Barcelona running out 3-2 winners on aggregate, and Atletico have not beaten the Catalan team in this tournament since April 2000.
Team News
© Imago
Barcelona are sweating over the fitness of Lamine Yamal, who posted a picture of his wounded foot after Saturday's clash with Las Palmas, but the attacker is expected to be cleared to feature in this contest.
Andreas Christensen may also make the squad, as he has recovered from his latest injury problem, but Marc Bernal and Marc-Andre ter Stegen remain unavailable for selection.
Head coach Flick will make changes from the side that started against Las Palmas, with Dani Olmo, Frenkie de Jong, Inigo Martinez and Ronald Araujo potentially all being introduced into the XI.
Ferran Torres scored a hat trick against Valencia in the last round of the competition and also registered off the bench late on against Las Palmas, but the Spaniard may have to settle for a spot among the substitutes.
As for Atletico, Juan Musso is set to be introduced between the sticks, as he has been the team's Copa del Rey goalkeeper this term.
Pablo Barrios was suspended for Atletico's La Liga clash with Valencia on Saturday; the midfielder is available for this match and is set to be introduced into the side, but Koke remains an injury doubt.
Julian Alvarez struck a brace against Valencia last time out and will continue in the final third of the field, with Alexander Sorloth likely to start on the bench once again, but Javi Galan and Jose Gimenez should be recalled into the side.
Barcelona possible starting lineup:
Szczesny; Kounde, Araujo, I Martinez, Balde; De Jong, Pedri; Raphinha, Olmo, Yamal; Lewandowski
Atletico Madrid possible starting lineup:
Musso; Molina, Gimenez, Le Normand, Galan; Simeone, De Paul, Barrios, Lino; Griezmann, Alvarez
We say: Barcelona 1-1 Atletico Madrid
Atletico are seeking a first Copa del Rey win over Barcelona for 25 years, but it is a tough ask on Tuesday night. Both managers would likely accept a draw if it were offered ahead of kickoff, and we are struggling to separate them in this contest, believing that it will ultimately end in a low-scoring stalemate.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Matt Law
