Barcelona and Atletico Madrid will face off in a crucial Champions League match on Tuesday.
The match, which is the first leg of the UCL quarterfinals, has a number of major implications for both sides. The two teams are currently in a battle for the top spot in the Spanish League and will do battle two more times this season after this game.
The teams have already done battle three times this season and every single game has ended in a draw. The first match of the season took place in the Spanish Super Cup. David Villa and Neymar each scored for the sides in a 1-1 draw. A week later they battled in the second leg of the Super Cup and tied 0-0. In January, the two teams met against and battled to yet another scoreless draw.
The familiarity could create a rather cagey battle between the two rivals. At the same time, the growing rivalry could lead to a battle filled with high-emotions.
Barcelona
Los Cules have turned their season around after seemingly looking like a team on the decline. The 4-3 win over Real Madrid was a microcosm of Barca's year. The team took a lead and looked confident but then fell behind 3-2. Lionel Messi scored two penalties to give the team a 4-3 win. Barcelona has looked solid since and is clearly back on the rise.
Atletico Madrid
Los Rojiblancos are the rise as well, especially after a huge 2-1 win at the San Mames over the weekend. Diego Costa continues to excel, proving that he is not a one-hit wonder; however, he will not play in the game. Madrid is in the drivers seat in the Spanish League and can use this UCL matchup to test out different strategies for taking down Barcelona on the final day of the season.
Key Player to Watch
Lionel Messi is always the most important player when he is on the pitch, but he can always be counted on to play at his best. However, the real player to watch is Neymar. The Brazilian finally scored a couple of goals for the team this past week, but he needs to continue his solid play and prove his place on the team.
Key Quote: "We will be careful we don't give the ball away and allow them to run into space on the counterattack... I don't think it will be an open game. We need to remember it's a two-legged tie played over 180 minutes. The last thing we need to do is play with desperation."
--Barcelona manager Gerardo Martino according to ESPN
Prediction: Barcelona draws 1-1.
The match kicks off at 3:45 p.m. EST and can be streamed online on Fox Soccer 2 Go. It can also be viewed on Fox Deportes.