Barça and Atlético to do battle in the 'Game of the Season'
A victory for FC Barcelona tonight would all but confirm the LaLiga crown remains at the Camp Nou for another season
'El Clasico' will always be the matches between Barça and Real Madrid. However the most important matches when it comes to deciding the winners of LaLiga have been between Barça and Atletico Madrid.
LaLiga 'final'
In the final match of the 2013/14 season, Atletico Madrid claimed the LaLiga crown at the Camp Nou. They are also responsible for knocking Barça out of two Champions League campaigns. After tonight's clash, there's only seven game weeks - a total of 21 points - to go. So if Barça extend the lead to 11 points this evening, it would only be a matter of time because they were officially made champions of Spain again.
Even a draw, on this occasion, would be a good result for the home side as it keeps Atletico from closing the gap. The only slight worry is if Atletico won tonight the gap would close to five points. If so, it'll mean the fight for the title would go on for a few weeks more.
Simeone, however, has never won at the Camp Nou and that stretches back 18 matches in total. His style of play which breaks up the match with fouls, defending deep and looking to strike on the counterattack. They always allow Barça to control possession and it's part of the reason Atletico have only scored seven goals and never more than one in each of those matches. Will he offer a different tactic this evening?
Fighting on all fronts
What isn't in question for tonight's match is that Valverde's side will come out looking to win. First, because they don't know any other way to play football. And secondly because the reward for victory is higher than normal. Expect them to pressure high up the pitch, looking to win back the ball quickly in the opposition's half and prevent Atletico from breaking in numbers.
A lot of focus will be on Antoine Griezmann but neither he, nor Diego Costa or Alvaro Morata, have shined at the Camp Nou. When you set up to distrupt the opposition and ignore your own strengths, it's normal that your attack will suffer as a result. That's what has happened to Griezmann in recent years.
Valverde and his team want LaLiga wrapped up tonight so they can focus on winning the Champions League, with Manchester United next up in the quarter finals. If Barça avoid defeat they'll go 19 matches unbeaten in LaLiga, the equivilent of half a season unbeaten.
Tonight we'll get to see the most important game of the season. Enjoy it.
