Barcelona vs Atletico Madrid Predictions

• Barcelona have won five of the previous six meetings between these two
• The hosts have won each of their previous five matches
• Barca have won four of their last five at home

Title contenders face off

Only a point splits these two sides in a dramatic Spanish title race, but Tuesday pits them against each other in the semi-finals of the Copa del Rey. Barca will be aiming for a first-leg lead to take into April’s clash in Madrid, while they’re also out for revenge after losing at home to Atletico in December.

Atleti’s win before Christmas was a fortunate one, as they struck a 96th-minute winner in a game where Barca created the better chances. With the insurance of a home leg to come, Simeone’s side may go for an even more conservative set-up in this trip.

Barca went into the previous meeting in poor form, but that’s not the case ahead of this cup tie. The Catalan side have won five straight games to put themselves back in the frame for the title, while they’ve won four of their five home games since that Atletico loss – only slipping up in a Champions League dead rubber against Atalanta.

Barca had won five successive clashes between the pair before Atletico’s smash-and-grab and they can restore their dominance in this first-leg. The visitors’ performances have dipped since their incredible winning streak was snapped last month, so back Barca to edge this meeting.