La Liga: Could This Be Early Title-Decider?

Atletico Madrid vs Barcelona

They have both failed to convince in the first quarter of La Liga.

Atletico Madrid have missed opportunities to take advantage of slip-ups by reigning champions Barcelona.

Yet Barca have failed to convince properly themselves. And while they come into this at the top of the table – just a point clear of this weekend’s opponents, Sevilla and surprise package Alaves – they do so after a shock result themselves.

It all adds up to potentially one of the La Liga 2018 highlights and a fixture SBOBET followers may struggle to predict given the topsy-turvy results so far.

Talking Points

Before the international break, Atletico finished on a high with a last-gasp victory over Athletic Bilbao.

Skipper Diego Godin was already carrying an injury when he scored an injury-time winner and ran away limping as he celebrated his 91st-minute header.

He is still not ready to return a fortnight on and has been one of four Atletico defenders in the treatment room, alongside Lucas Hernandez, Stefan Savic and Jose Maria Gimenez – none of whom are guaranteed to return in time.

Despite key absentees, Los Rojiblancos have the best defensive record in the Spanish top flight with only eight goals conceded in their opening 12 games.

It is in attack where they have struggled, scoring just 16 times.

One man who desperately needs a goal quickly is Diego Costa who hasn’t found the back of the net in La Liga since February, a run which stretches back 18 games.

Only three league goals so far have come from the frontmen – two from Antoine Griezmann and one from Kevin Gameiro – but their toothlessness in the attack has been masked by defenders and midfielders chipping in.

Barcelona have no such worries, having scored 10 more goals (34) than their nearest challengers Sevilla and more than double that of Atletico.

Ernesto Valverde’s men are missing the injured and suspended Croatian midfielder Ivan Rakitic, yet the strength in depth is highlighted by the fact Arturo Vidal – who returned early from the international break – or Sergi Roberto are candidates to come in.

There is a doubt, however, over Philippe Coutinho who suffered an injury shortly before the international break.

Barca have happy memories of the Estadio Wanda Metropolitano where they clinched the first part of a league-and-cup double last season, thrashing Sevilla 5-0 in the Copa del Rey Final.

Diego Simeone may have overseen one of the greatest periods in Atletico’s history, but his record against Barcelona is one he would rather forget.

In fact, the club has taken just seven points from a possible 60 in these fixtures during his tenure.

A win this weekend would end that unwanted record and reignite the belief of those who doubt Atletico are ready to be genuine title challengers.

History

They last met in March at the Camp Nou when Lionel Messi fired Barcelona eight points clear at the top with his 600th career goal – a result that all but ended the title race.

The corresponding fixture last season ended all square.

Saul Niguez fired the hosts in front before a late Luis Suarez equaliser rescued a point in a dramatic 1-1 draw.

The previous season saw an even later goal as Messi netted in the 86^th minute to secure a 2-1 away win.

Rafinha and Godin had earlier traded goals.

Atletico will, however, have a memorable success fresh in their memory.

In the Champions League quarter-finals in 2016, played at their former Vicente Calderon ground, two first-half goals from Griezmann sealed a 2-0 success and a 3-2 aggregate win to send the holders crashing out after they had won the first leg 2-1.

If Simeone and his players can make their new stadium as imposing and as daunting for visitors as they did that night, then perhaps a repeat result is not out of the question.

Betting Tip

	Atletico Madrid vs Barcelona	Atletico Madrid Asian Handicap 0.00 @ 2.23
	November 25, 03:45 (GMT+8)

As they are in virtually every football match they play, La Liga 2018 betting odds favour Barca.

The 1X2 odds have the Catalans @ 2.38, with Atletico @ 2.90 and the draw @ 3.30.

It’s a similar scenario with Asian Handicap betting where you can get odds of -0.50 Barcelona @ 2.38 and +0.25 Atletico @ 1.85.

A tight encounter is expected, and it’s hard to say whether there will be many goals judging that over 2.50 goals pays out @ 2.00 and under 2.25 goals @ 2.12.

Total goal 2-3 is clearly favoured @ 1.89 and if you fancy a repeat of last season’s meeting: correct score 1-1 provides odds of 5.80.

A SHORT EXPLANATION ON HOW OUR () BETS ARE WORTH:
= €20 (Highly confident)	= €10 (CONFIDENT)	= €5 (SOMEWHAT CONFIDENT)

Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.

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