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This season's Premier League title race, between Manchester City and Liverpool, proved so interesting that people have been paying less attention to other leagues such as La Liga while the Premier League season was still alive.
In recent times, Real Madrid and Barcelona have dominated this league to a remarkable extent – which is fine but also means that the league has inevitably been slightly less interesting to outsiders. This year however, with one week of the season left, Barca face a final day title showdown with a different Madrid – Atletico – and could end up dropping to third depending on the result of this game and that of Real Madrid. Atletico Madrid have rarely been anywhere close to the title over the past twenty years, but this season they have a real chance. They take on Barca in the last game, and both teams have advantages.
The big one for Atletico is the simple fact that they don't have to win the match to claim their first La Liga title since 1996. With a three-point lead over Barca going into it, a draw will be good enough for them, whereas Barcelona must win to have the chance to take the title.
However, overall it could be argued that the majority of the significant advantages lie with Barcelona, including the fact that they will be playing at home, have a far superior goal difference (+67 compared with +51 for Atletico). The Catalan side also have a far better head-to-head record in prior matches between these sides – although the earlier meeting this season ended in a draw - and much more experience of the pressure of winning titles. Then there is the fact that Atletico also have the distraction of a Champions League final against great rivals Real, although they are unlikely to be thinking about that on Sunday.
Atletico Madrid injuries and suspensions
- In doubt: Diego Costa
Barcelona injuries and suspensions
- In doubt: Gerard Pique, Neymar, Jordi Alba
What is much more likely to impact on Atletico's chances is the injury to their key striker Diego Costa. He is their top scorer and missed the draw with Malaga, and his absence probably cost them the chance to wrap up the title in that match. Without him they proved disappointingly toothless in front of goal, meaning they will be praying he makes the game at the Nou Camp. Barca also have doubts over key players – particularly in defence, with centre-back Gerard Pique nursing a hip injury and left back Jordi Alba also a question mark for the game.
Overall there is no question that Barcelona have more injury worries than Atletico overall, but that the single key player that the team from Madrid might be missing is probably more important to their hopes of getting the result they need.
Match Betting
With key players both unavailable for both sides, Atletico are certainly going to be hurt should their key striker be left on the side-line for the panicle decider game in the La Liga.
Bookmakers.co.uk shows all the online bookmakers are favouring Barcelona to become triumphant (5/6), with Bet365 offering the best odds for an away win (10/3) at the Nou Camp.
Projected line-ups
These are the line-ups for each side that seem most likely, given the teams each sent out in their previous fixtures and the available information concerning injuries. Of course, should the likes of Costa and Pique prove fit; they will almost certainly play, given the importance of the game.
Barcelona: Jose Pinto, Bartra, Adriano, Daniel Alves, Sergio Gomez, Andres Iniesta Lujan, Javier Mascherano, Cesc Fabregas, Busquets, Pedro, Alexis Sanchez, Lionel Messi
Atletico Madrid: Thibaut Courtois, Diego Godin, Filipe Luis, Juanfran, Miranda, Mario Suarez, Arda Turan, Gabi, Emre Belozoglu, Adrian, David Villa.
Match Date/Time: 17th May 2014 / 5 p.m.
Venue: Camp Nou, Barcelona, Spain
It is Sky Sports that holds the exclusive rights to show La Liga matches in the UK, but frustratingly for many football fans in Britain, this big one is not on any of the Sky Sports channels over here.
Written by Ketan Patel
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