Barcelona welcome Atlético Madrid to the Spotify Camp Nou on Wednesday night for the first leg of their UEFA Champions League quarter-final, with the second leg to follow in Madrid on 14 April.
The latest chapter in this heavyweight rivalry arrives only four days after Barça’s 2-1 La Liga win at the Metropolitano, a result that pushed Hansi Flick’s side seven points clear at the top of the Spanish league.
That victory gives Barcelona a psychological edge, but Atlético have already demonstrated this season that they remain a dangerous knockout opponent. Diego Simeone’s men reached the Copa del Rey final at Barça’s expense and have also twice eliminated the Catalans from the Champions League quarter finals in previous meetings in 2014 and 2016.
UEFA has described this run as part of an 11-day, three-match endurance series between two elite clubs, and another fiercely contested encounter is expected.
Barcelona’s preparations received a boost with several senior players included in the pre-match squad, although UEFA’s latest preview notes that Raphinha and Marc Bernal are unavailable.
With a place in the semi-finals at stake, Barça will look to take a first leg advantage on home soil, while Atlético will aim to keep the tie alive ahead of next week’s decisive return in the capital.
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