Barcelona and Atletico Madrid will face off for the fifth time this season in the Champions League quarter-finals.
Although Atleti advanced in the Copa del Rey semi-final, Barca won three of the other four matchups between them in 2025-26. One of them was actually last weekend, 2-1 away at the Metropolitano.
Still, the Colchoneros advanced both times they have faced Barca in the Champions League knockout stages. In fact, they went on to the final on both occasions — eventually losing to Real Madrid (2013-14 and 2015-16).
Hansi Flick and Diego Simeone have fought some interesting tactical battles over the last couple of years. This could be yet another one.
How can Barcelona and Atletico Madrid hurt each other?
Barcelona: The Yamal factor and its developments
Lamine Yamal will always be Barcelona’s key player in any matchup. For context, he was directly involved in more than half of their shots last weekend (12/22 — seven shots and five chances created).
In his four games against Atletico Madrid this season, the 18-year-old has managed just one assist. But he has racked up incredible numbers elsewhere.
His quality will certainly impact Simeone’s team selection. Yamal got Nico Gonzalez sent off in the La Liga reverse fixture, abused Matteo Ruggeri and David Hancko in one-on-one situations in the other matches.
The Barcelona star already has five goals and four assists in just eight Champions League games this season and will look to add more.
Another consequence that his presence brings affects the right-back spot. Simeone will probably try to have more than one man marking Yamal, which could leave the right-back open more often.
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Jules Kounde, Ronald Araujo and Eric Garcia could all feature, but don’t attract enough attention and don’t make teams pay too often with their crosses. On the other hand, they are all more reliable at the back (more on that later).
But a pairing of Joao Cancelo and Yamal down the right could be just what they need to make the most of their attacking dominance. In a game in which they will likely try to keep control at all times, the risk of having a defensive ‘liability’ at right-back could be justified.
Barcelona: Set pieces
Set pieces have come back as one of the main ways of creating chances, especially in the Premier League. It’s a useful weapon in tight games, as Arsenal have shown us time and again over the past few seasons.
A quarter of Barca’s shots (19/76) and 75% of their goals (3/4) in the four games against Atleti this seasons have come from set pieces. Short-corner routines in particular have helped them.
Considering that it will be a home game, there is a chance Simeone places even more emphasis on the defensive end. His usual 4-4-2 that can turn into a 6-4-0 with wingers becoming full-backs and full-backs becoming additional centre-backs inside the box is likely to come into play here.
Not only are set pieces useful as an alternate resource when breaking down the opponent is hard, but the game dynamics could give Barcelona a lot of opportunities from corners. Atleti will try to prevent Yamal and Marcus Rashford’s wide plays, block shots and crosses which would eventually lead to set-piece chances.
Thankfully for them, Barca are used to making the most of their opportunities from dead balls in the Champions League. Only four teams have scored more goals than them (8) from set pieces, while Atletico rank second in set-piece goals conceded (10, one fewer than Qarabag).
Atletico Madrid: Right-sided combinations
It worked the previous times, so Simeone would be crazy not to try it again. The main way Atletico caused damage to Barcelona was by attacking down the right side over and over again.
The defensive fragility of Barca’s left-backs clearly helps in this regard. Alejandro Balde always looked out of position and offered way too much space behind him for Giuliano Simeone and Nahuel Molina to explore.
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While Simeone may have doubts over who to field at right-back, Molina was crucial to their attacking plays in the three matches he started against Barca this season. He created at least one big chance in each of them and also provided two assists overall.
Marcos Llorente had a hard time with Raphinha and Barcelona’s artificial transitions worked on his side. Plus, his presence is probably more needed in midfield. Both Johnny Cardoso and Pablo Barrios are unlikely to play and Llorente played a great game alongside Koke in the 4-0 win in the Copa del Rey.
Back to the wide combinations, the striker on the weak side was always offside waiting for someone to play the full-back or winger in behind where the ball is. This way, he will have the advantage of being onside and with the defence hopelessly running back towards their own goal.
Simeone left Julian Alvarez on the bench last weekend and could have something special planned for him. His freedom and quality of movement could be crucial to carving up an already weak and exposed defensive system that Hansi Flick has.
Not to mention, of course, the German tactician’s high line and how often rivals find themselves through on goal against Barca.