Atletico Madrid vs Barcelona LIVE
Two title rivals face off tonight at the Wanda Metropolitano as third hosts second in La Liga, in a game which has not ended in a stalemate in the league in almost four years. Goals should be guaranteed tonight and Real Madrid, who won at Villarreal last night to move three points clear at the top, will be watching on.
Atleti will be licking their wounds after an agonising Champions League exit on penalties to their cross-city rivals, but cannot afford to dwell on the defeat as they look to leapfrog Barca in that Liga table. Hansi Flick's side, meanwhile, are still on the hunt for a treble this season.
The hosts will be without the suspended Angel Correa, while both Koke and Rodrigo De Paul will be assessed with late fitness tests. Dani Olmo is pushing to start ahead of Gavi for Barca with Flick set to make a number of big calls for this clash. Follow the game LIVE below with our dedicated match blog.
Atletico Madrid vs Barcelona latest news
- GOAL! Lewandowski pulls one back
- GOAL! Sorloth doubles up
- GOAL! Alvarez breaks the deadlock
Full-time!
22:02 , Alex Young99min: There’s the whistle, Barcelona go back on top!
GOAL!
22:01 , Alex Young98min: Time for one more on a stunning night for Barcelona as Torres gets his second.
97min: Gallagher takes out Lewandowski. Is that the last act?
94min: Time for any more?
GOAL!
21:56 , Alex Young92min: It’s Barcelona’s turn to score late this time!
Lamine Yamal was a rocket from distance to take the lead in injury time! A big deflection, but he won’t care.
91min: Six minutes added on!
90min: Atleti scored injury-time goals in the two other games against Barca this season.
Will lightning strike twice?
87min: Lewandowski tries to do the same trick twice with a smart touch and turn on the edge of the area, but this time his shot is wide.
86min: Riquelme is on for Griezmann.
83min: This is end to end. We’re set for a grandstand finish.
81min: We haven't have a draw in this fixture in four years. A big 10 minutes in store.
CHANCE!
21:44 , Alex Young80min: Sorloth clean through with just the keeper to beat, but he goes with the outside of his boot!
Simeone on his knees. A hint of offside, but still. Sitter.
GOAL!
21:42 , Alex Young78min: All square!
A stunning turnaround as Torres heads home Raphinha’s cross.
Atleti defence was static.
GOAL!
21:36 , Alex Young72min: Instant reply from Barcelona as Lewandowski scores out of almost nothing!
He chests a cross down on the edge of the area and half-volleys a shot inside the post. Stunning.
GOAL!
21:34 , Alex Young70min: A long way back for Barca now!
Substitutes Gallagher and Sorloth combine on the break as the England man runs through and cuts back for Sorloth to slot home.
Barcelona are calling for a handball in the build-up.
67min: Flick rolls the dice, replacing Olmo with Torres.
64min: Simeone is such a handful. Balde the latest to try and fail to stop him legally, and gets booked for his troubles.
60min: Alvarez is off before the hour mark, replaced by Sorloth.
56min: Barcelona starting to set up camp in the Atleti half again.
51min: Glorious move from Atleti, who have been defending deep since the beginning of this half, but one counter and Alvarez almost sneaks through but has to settle for a corner.
48min: Lewandowski tries to muscle his way into the area but is crowded out by three defenders.
Second half
21:09 , Alex Young46min: Back underway!
Here come the Barca players, keeping their hosts waiting a tad.
That was Alvarez’s fourth goal against Barcelona this season.
Well, that half was certainly end to end but perhaps not the goalmouth action we were expecting.
An even first half after Barca enjoyed the better start. Yamal perhaps should have scored early on, and you would have expected the net to buldge when Lewandowski missed a good chance seconds before the Atleti goal.
Half-time
20:50 , Alex Young48min: There’s the whistle!
46min: Two minutes added on.
GOAL!
20:49 , Alex Young45min: There it is!
Breakthrough for the hosts and it’s a stunning break, seconds after Lewandowski missed a great chance up the other end.
Simeone is slipped into the area after Griezmann beats the offside trap, and Alvarez is on hand to tuck home the pull back.
44min: Griezmann can’t quite get his movement right tonight, he’s offside again as he looks up for Alvarez in the centre.
42min: A smart turn by Griezman, who looks up and tries to find Alvarez scampering into the Barca half but there’s way too much spice on the half.
36min: Reinildo is now into the book. It’s been coming.
30min: Deary me, what are they doing?! Kounde is on a booking and he swiped out at Simeone, who hits the deck like he’s been shot.
The referee realises it is six-of-one, and lets the pair escape punishment.
26min: Things are heating up! Kounde is the first into the book as Reinaldo is again fouled.
Kounde thinks he gets the ball but, well, he’s wrong.
25min: Now Atleti with the late challenges as Griezmann leaves one on Casado.
21min: Atletico starting to create more now with a couple of corners, Griezmann getting involved for the first time as Alvarez is almost slipped into the area but the flag is up.
17min: It is a bit fiesty out there, a few late tackles from the Barcelona lot on their hosts tonight. Lewandowski just left a mark on Le Normand.
14min: Big header from Lewandowski, which Oblak is more than a match to.
The striker was slightly on the stretch, couldn’t get enough power behind it.
10min: Two attempts from De Paul in as many minutes and two wild shanks which fly well wide.
8min: Reinildo wins another free kick, which could have again gone the other way.
CHANCE!
20:09 , Alex Young6min: Oh my, Yamal had to score!
A lovely one-two with Olmo on the edge of the area plays the youngster in, he has half the goal to aim at but digs a shot wide of the far post.
4min: Yamal with a dart down the right, gets the better of Reinildo and appears to have been fouled near the byline but the referee awards a goal kick.
3min: Barcelona with all the early possession.
Kick-off!
20:03 , Alex Young1min: Up and running in Madrid!
Here they come!
Cubarsi is the first out for Barcelona.
Lenglet is one of the first in the tunnel, lining up for Atleti while on loan from Barcelona of course.
The teams are back in their dressing rooms now. Not long to go.
Final prep.
Head to head
19:28 , Alex YoungAtletico won at Camp Nou earlier this season and earned a huge 4-4 draw in the Copa de Rey semi-final first leg last month.
However, before this season, Barcelona had won their last five on the trot against Diego Simeone & Co.
- Barcelona wins: 80
- Draws: 42
- Atletico Madrid wins: 53
Flick on De Jong absence
19:15 , Alex Young“Frenkie de Jong is out due to discomfort - he was supposed to start, but unfortunately he couldn’t.”
Changes in the middle
19:09 , Alex YoungSo, there is no Gallagher for Atletico as De Paul is passed fit to start. Elsewhere, Le Normand starts in defence alongside Lenglet, who is on loan from Barcelona.
Barca also make a change in midfield as Casado starts in place of De Jong. Otherwise it is a case of as you were.
The players are out warming up.
Barcelona team news in full
18:54 , Alex YoungBarcelona XI: Szczesny, Kounde, Cubarsi, Martinez, Balde, Pedri, Olmo, Casado, Lamine Yamal, Lewandowski, Raphinha
Subs: Araujo, Gavi, Ferran, Inaki Pena, Pablo Torre, Fermin, Pau Victor, De Jong, Eric, Kochen, Fort, Gerard Martin
Barcelona XI
18:52 , Alex YoungThe visitors!
🚨 BARÇA XI 🚨#AtletiBarça pic.twitter.com/P9n0BpfwGa
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) March 16, 2025
Atletico team news in full
18:51 , Alex YoungAtletico XI: Oblak, M.Llorente, Lenglet, Reinildo, Le Normand, R.De Paul, Barrios, S.Lino, Giuliano, Griezmann, J.Alvarez
Subs: J.Musso, A.Gomis, J.M.Gimenez, Azpilicueta, Molina, Witsel, Javi Galan, Gallagher, Lemar, Riquelme, Sorloth
Atletico XI
18:47 , Alex Young...or not!
XI 🔴⚪ pic.twitter.com/4fqUAvBDHQ
— Atlético de Madrid (@Atleti) March 16, 2025
Looks like Conor is starting.
El traje de los domingos ❤️🤍 pic.twitter.com/5msAhS69sg
— Atlético de Madrid (@Atleti) March 16, 2025
Score prediction
18:25 , Alex YoungA really intriguing one, this.
How to Atletico react to a truly painful Champions League exit, and can Barcelona take advantage of any residual distractions?
You would imagine Diego Simeone will have drilled into his players the importance of shaking the midweek result off, just as he said to reporters. His charges will surely heed that warning.
Barcelona have not had it all their own way - far from it - against Atleti this season and I expect more of the same tonight. I'm going for a rare draw, and plenty of goals.
2-2 draw
Barcelona team news
18:15 , Alex YoungBarcelona have Andreas Christensen available again but the chance of him making the pitch is small given his fitness issues this season.
Dani Olmo is pushing to start agaisnt of Gavi, while Frenkie de Jong could also come in.
Early Atletico team news
18:04 , Alex YoungAtletico will be without Angel Correa, who is suspended following a red card against Getafe in their last league game.
Koke and Rodrigo De Paul will be given late fitness tests, but Conor Gallagher is expected to keep his place in midfield.
Flick hoping for third time lucky
17:58 , Alex YoungBarcelona must learn their lessons from the last two games against Atletico Madrid if they are to beat them for the first time this season, manager Hansi Flick said.
Flick's side lost 2-1 at home to Atletico and were held to a 4-4 draw in their Copa del Rey semi-final first leg, with Atletico's Alexander Sorloth scoring a stoppage-time winner in the first game and a 90th-minute equaliser in the second.
"I think we played two great matches. We have to be focused from the beginning of the match to the end of the match," Flick told reporters.
"In the first match we weren't as focused as we can be at the end of the match. In the second match, we weren't focused at the beginning and the end.
"We have to take care of that. If you make mistakes against Atletico, they can hurt you. This is what we have to defend."
Asked if the game could decide the title race, Flick said: "It's a long way to go in the league, it's one match. If we win it will be very good for our confidence and give us more belief.
"I always say LaLiga clubs know how to play football, it's not easy to win against such teams."
Simeone demands focus after Champions League exit
17:48 , Alex YoungDiego Simeone has urged Atletico Madrid tb to move on from their Champions League exit ahead of tonight's La Liga home match against Barcelona.
Simeone had spoken out about Atletico's exit on Wednesday, when VAR ruled Julian Alvarez's slip caused a double touch to rule out an Atletico goal in the penalty shootout against Real.
"I'm not going to comment further on the previous match. We have to focus on the upcoming clash," the 54-year-old Argentine added.
"We have a great opportunity against a team that plays very well. We're focused on ourselves and on showing the fans that we can keep competing."
The match against Barcelona could be a defining moment in Simeone's season. Barcelona are second in the standings with 57 points, one ahead of Atletico, who have played a game more.
"It's always important to maintain the right distance in the standings as the season progresses. For our chances, this match is about winning and closing the gap. If they win, they move closer to the title," Simeone said.
"Everything about them (Barcelona) concerns us. They are a very complete team, a brilliant side, and they've managed this past week well."
How to watch Atletico Madrid vs Barcelona
17:35 , Alex YoungTV channel: The game will be broadcast on free-to-air coverage ITV 4. Coverage starts at 7.30pm GMT ahead of an 8pm kick-off time.
Premier Sports and LALIGATV will also show the game.
Live stream: ITVX – which is free with an email subscription – will provide a live stream. Premier Sports subscribers will be able to watch on the Premier Sports App.
Welcome
17:29 , Alex YoungGood evening and welcome to the Standard’s LIVE coverage of the La Liga clash between Atletico Madrid and Barcelona at the Wanda Metropolitano.
It’s third hosting second and a game which usually brings a guarantee of goals.
Kick-off is at 8pm. Stick with us.
