Champions League top spot is just about still up for grabs for Barcelona after their wild comeback win at Benfica last time out, but for Hansi Flick the bigger picture is about a return to form in the new year as he chases major titles.
By Karl Matchett
Bounceback for Barca
After a fine first third of the new campaign, Barca were looking strong at the top of LaLiga, flying well enough in Europe and picking up notable results along the way – such as the demolishing of Real Madrid. Fast forward to mid-November and the wheels started to come off, though. A nine-game run in all competitions yielded three wins and, in the relentless nature of elite domestic competition, that’s enough to see you fall off the pace these days.
Post-Christmas, though, Flick’s side have won the Supercopa, won another Clásico, rediscovered their scoring touch and plundered 12 goals in their last two games, including smashing seven past Valencia.
Flick doesn’t need his side to finish top of the initial Champions League phase to show how they’ll be a danger in the knockouts, and the boss has noted winning LaLiga remains the priority. But he also won’t want to give up momentum again and that means possible trouble for Atalanta, who themselves need a result to guarantee a top-eight finish.
The Serie A side are seventh, one point above the dotted line – but 14 points probably won’t be enough to see them avoid the playoffs. It’ll take an almighty effort for them to win this game…but with three wins from three on the road, they do actually have the best away record in the Champions League this term (along with Liverpool.)
Recent form
After going from late September to late December with just a single defeat to Real Madrid against them, Atalanta then recently went five without a win. That unhelpful spell has been ended by two straight victories, but Barcelona is a different test to Sturm Graz and Como. They may well see a draw as a great result on the night but a disappointing outcome overall, if the likes of Aston Villa and Feyenoord or Lille find a win of their own.
Barcelona have won six and drawn one of their last seven in all competitions, scoring an amazing 29 goals in that time. They have hit five or more in four of their last five games.
Team news
Dani Olmo has joined the treatment table which already had Marc-Andre ter Stegen, Andreas Christensen, Marc Bernal and Iñigo Martínez on it. Ademola Lookman – star of last season’s Europa League triumph, Odilon Koussounou and Gianluca Scamacca are all missing in action for the visitors.
Key player
Not to put too much expectation on Barcelona scoring a hatful more if they rotate their team too much, but Atalanta’s back line needs to be on point. Berat Djimsiti has been their main man: the do-everything defender tops their stats for tackles, interceptions, clearances and blocks per 90 this season.
Prediction
Barcelona to wrap up their campaign with another high-scoring game – which will probably see Atalanta just miss out on the top eight: Barcelona 3-2 Atalanta.
(Cover image from IMAGO)
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