Atletico Madrid vs Barcelona: Picking a Combined XI Ahead of Saturday's La Liga Clash

Atletico Madrid vs Barcelona: Picking a Combined XI Ahead of Saturday's La Liga Clash

after an eventful, arduous worldwide spoil, los angeles liga returns with one in all spain's most mouthwatering fixtures on saturday - atletico madrid vs barcelona.

this represents the sternest check of the season so far for ernesto valverde's high-flying side, and it offers los colchoneros an possibility to shut the increasingly more huge hole on the pinnacle.

each sides have a plethora of talented gamers - though they play in very exclusive styles - and a second of first-class may be what makes a decision the conflict at wanda metropolitano. here is a combined xi of gamers from the 2 sides

11. GK: Jan Oblak

atletico's slovenian shot-stopper has installed himself as surely certainly one of europe's excellent in recent years.

an implementing parent in intention, his presence has been a first-rate issue within the club's notoriously impermeable defence. few goalkeepers are as well-rounded or as consistent as oblak, and few would beat him into the starting lineup of any aspect.

alas for marc-andré ter stegen, he isn't pretty at the level of his opposite variety in this occasion.

10. RB: Sergi Roberto

although a few have expressed doubts over sergi roberto's effectiveness as an out-and-out full-returned, there may be little doubt over his dependability.

clearly a midfield participant, the 25-year-vintage has needed to play at right-back for the reason that departure of dani alves, and he has achieved so commendably.

this season, nelson semedo has been delivered in to offer a venture, and has inspired up to now, however roberto remains a solid choice at proper-returned. atletico, in the meantime, have had issues inside the function, with juanfran beginning to decline and šime vrsaljko yet to full set up himself.

9. CB: Gerard Piqué

few teams might now not be stepped forward through the calming presence of gerard piqué, a defender who has elderly like a first-rate wine.

the 30-12 months-antique has been a staple of the successful barcelona teams of latest years, and stays an crucial part of their team. piqué is sort of a consultant of the club, the unflappable chief who orchestrates matters on the again.

8. CB: Diego Godín

a few bear in mind diego godin the sector's excellent centre-lower back; if he is now not, then he's clearly among the applicants.

the uruguayan has constructed a reputation as an unscrupulous, rugged defender, with little difficulty but for keeping the ball out of his aspect's net. however he is also a frontrunner, a motivator and coffee goalscorer.

"nothing thrills me less than playing in opposition to atlético," luis suarez once stated. "they're so stressful and godín is a nuisance; he's always there next to me, he in no way leaves me alone."

7. LB: Filipe Luís

filipe luís has been superb seeing that his return to atletico, having departed in 2014 for one season with chelsea.

now not many left-backs can boast protective and offensive attributes as entire because the brazilian, and no longer many perform at this type of continually excessive stage.

atletico will want him to be at his excellent in both regions of the pitch if they are to inflict a first defeat of the season on barcelona.

6. CM: Koke

while koke signed a 5-12 months contract extension with atletico in can also, it become met with understandable delight from supporters of the club.

the 25-year-old has epitomised the upward push to prominence of diego simeone's side in current years, tenacious and combative in midfield. but he provides an all import technical high-quality, a guile which could assist liberate defences or produce a second of individual brilliance.

he is vital to atletico, and one in all la liga's maximum smart midfield players.

5. CM: Sergio Busquets

to go away sergio busquets out of any team might be scandalous, such is his simplistic brilliance, his uniquely perceptive potential to study the game.

the midfielder has in no way been extraordinary, he has in no way been drawn to the headlines. he virtually does his task, impeccably, but frequently inside the background, faraway from the unfastened-flowing, thrilling attacking play associated with barcelona.

some have undervalued his contribution, however those that apprehend the game hold him inside the maximum regard. "busquets is the pleasant defensive significant midfielder in the world," pep guardiola as soon as said, and it is difficult to disagree.

4. CM: Andrés Iniesta

he can be 33 and no longer in his high, however he's nonetheless andrés iniesta. 

even as he may have misplaced a few tempo, his mind has been unaffected via age, as has his superior approach. and ernesto valverde appears assured in iniesta's capacity to start video games with out the need for a extended rest.

he's nonetheless very a great deal capable of dictating the outcome of a massive sport.

3. RW: Lionel Messi

who else? the argentine has now hit his 30s, but his prolific goalscoring has now not ceased. in fact, it appears it could be getting extra ludicrously dazzling.

messi has scored eleven desires in seven los angeles liga appearances this season, two in two champions league games, and on tuesday night time bagged a vital hat-trick for argentina to ship them via to the world cup

2. ST: Luis Suárez

luis suárez has had a difficult start to the season, and has at times appeared a pissed off figure in a barcelona shirt. however a dip in form should now not eliminate from the uruguayan's completely deserved reputation as certainly one of the game's first-class strikers.

he'll probably discover his toes once more quickly, a horrifying thought for the defenders that need to face both he and messi at the pinnacle of their game.

1. LW: Antoine Griezmann

the frenchman completes what would be a totally tasty front three.

griezmann, like suárez, has not scored as many as he would have preferred thus far this campaign, even though that is in component because of the three recreation ban he picked up in advance inside the season.

but he is nonetheless very a lot atletico's focal point, the player they will look toward for thought towards a confident barcelona facet on saturday.