With Atletico Madrid looking to initiate a title race in La Liga with their weekend trip to Camp Nou, the FC crew discuss what Barcelona need to do to fend off the challengers. Check out all the key statistics you need to know ahead of the clash between La Liga leaders Barcelona and Atletico Madrid.
BARCELONA, Spain -- Ernesto Valverde disputed the idea that Barcelona's game against Atletico Madrid is a potential title decider but conceded it has taken on increased significance after his side dropped points at Las Palmas in the week.
The draw in Gran Canaria on Thursday, Barca's third in their last five La Liga games, allowed Atletico to cut the gap on the unbeaten league leaders to five points.
Valverde's side boasted an 11-point lead over second-place Atletico going into February but would find themselves just two points clear if they were to lose at Camp Nou on Sunday.
However, the match also offers Barcelona a chance to take a huge step towards regaining the title they lost to Real Madrid last season as a win would restore an eight-point lead.
"Of course it's not a final," Valverde said at a news conference on Saturday. "It's an important game, but there is still a long way to go. The points are important for what they could mean and [also] to stop the gap being cut even more.
"Our advantage is down to just five points after dropping two the other day, so now the points are worth even more and the prize is a juicy one. If we win, we go eight points clear and that's the intention. Winning would be an important step forward.
"But there's still a long way to go to decide the league, so I don't consider it a final. But we will prepare for it as if it's our last game, as if it's a final. That's the only way to prepare for games against Atletico."
While Barca have shown signs of slowing down in recent weeks, Atletico have won eight consecutive games in all competitions and have scored nine goals in their last two league matches.
However, Valverde didn't agree with the assessment that Diego Simeone's side go into the encounter in better form.
"I don't think that's the case," he said. "Maybe they've had some big results recently, scoring nine goals in two games when normally they're a team that makes the most of the goals they score.
"They're in good form, but so were Girona and Eibar when we played them. Atletico are doing well now, but they have been doing well since the beginning of the season. They're always strong."
Ernesto Valverde said Barcelona are preparing for Sunday's game against Atletico Madrid as if it were a final.
Antoine Griezmann has scored seven goals in his last two league games, including four against Leganes on Wednesday, and poses the Madrid side's biggest threat.
The French striker has never scored at the Camp Nou in 11 previous meetings, although it's a proposed transfer to Barcelona in the summer that has made headlines this week.
"I can't read the future, but I can say that I would prefer him to reserve his goals for another game," Valverde said when asked if he'd like Griezmann to save his goals for when he's wearing a Barca shirt.
"He is a great player and he's in great form but he plays for Atletico. We hope he doesn't score and, of course, we're aware of the threat he carries. But I am not going to speak about another side's player. It wouldn't be right, especially the day before playing them."
Valverde is only missing Nelson Semedo for the game and confirmed he has already decided what his team will be for the match.
The only doubt is whether Philippe Coutinho, Paulinho, Ousmane Dembele or someone else is included as the fourth midfielder alongside Sergio Busquets, Ivan Rakitic and Andres Iniesta.
Samuel Marsden covers Barcelona for ESPN FC. Follow him on Twitter @SamuelMarsden.
Comments
Use a Facebook account to add a comment, subject to Facebook's Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. Your Facebook name, photo & other personal information you make public on Facebook will appear with your comment, and may be used on ESPN's media platforms. Learn more.
Source: espn.co.uk