He who dares
Matchday 31 has the potential to be a pivotal one in La Liga as title hopefuls, Atletico, travel to Camp Nou looking to cut Barcelona’s lead at the top for the second time in a week.
Signs of life in title race?
Quite possibly! Ernesto Valverde’s plan to rest big guns Pique, Rakitic and Messi ahead of Barca’s quest for a League and European Cup double, backfired on Wednesday night.
A 4-4 draw at relegation threatened Villareal, remarkable for the fact Messi and Suarez managed to rescue an unlikely point in the dying moments for the Champions, coupled with Atletico’s routine home victory against Girona, leaves the gap between first and second at eight points.
Without a doubt Barca are still well placed to secure a fifth La Liga tile in six seasons but if there’s one side you don’t want to give a sniff of hope too it’s Atletico. Diego Simone’s men know what they need to do come Saturday night in order to keep their season alive.
All or nothing for Atleti
A draw is no good for the visitors. It’ll be one more game chalked off for Barca who’ll be confident of holding onto an eight-point advantage with seven to play.
This throws up the question as to whether a stubborn Simone can change his mentality and step outside his comfort zone. The role of the underdog has suited the Argentinian and Atletico for some while now. But on occasions this term, there’s been signs such a philosophy has run its course.
No more was this on display than against Juventus in the Champions League second leg when Simeone held his hands up for getting his tactics wrong. Atletico couldn’t afford to just sit back and defend their first leg lead against Ronaldo and co and so it proved.
Will Simone change his ways?
The time has come for a reactive approach to be replaced with a proactive one if Los Rojiblancos are to avoid their season petering out. And perhaps Simeone himself is beginning to realise as much after seeing his side capitalise on Barca’s slip-up.
His pledge to attack the hosts and cut the lead still further suggests he’s willing to abandon his defensive principles to see his side in with a shout of a first league title since 2014.
If Simone keeps to his word we will have a genuine title race on our hands.
Barca vs. Atletico betting tip
The manner in which Barca conceded four goals to a relegation contender would’ve concerned Valverde and delighted Simeone in equal measure. It’s unlikely the hosts will be got at quite so easily with the spine of the team restored but Simone’s promise to attack is one that I’m buying.
This fixture has often failed to live up to the hype but the circumstances surrounding this one points to a classic hence my tip for the game producing Over 3.5 goals.
