FC BARCELONA

Atletico Madrid are one of the most successful teams in Spain, having won both the La Liga and Cup titles 9 times, including the double in 1996. After an all too familiar frustrating start to this season, the team have really upped their game since the arrival of Simeone at Christmas.

The Athletic Madrid club was founded in 1903 by two Basque emigrants and for nearly 20 years they served as a feeder club for Athletic Bilbao. They became independent in 1921 and were one of the founders of the first Spanish League Championship. After the Civil War, they changed their name to Athletic Aviacio de Madrid after merging with an air force team, before becoming Atletico Madrid in 1947. The immediate post-war years saw them take four league titles and they also won two in the 60s and two more the following decade. Their most successful period in recent history came under Radomir Antic, when they won the double in 1996 whilst European success came with an Intertoto Cup in 2007 and the Europa League and European Super Cup in 2010, to add to 1961’s Cup Winners Cup. The low point came in 1999- 00 when despite reaching the Cup final they were relegated and did not get back into the top flight until 2002 . The 2010 European success under Quique Sanchez Flores couldn’t be built on though, and after finishing seventh last season, the manager was replaced by Gregorio Manzano, who was then himself sacked after a poor run in December 2011 and replaced by Diego Simeone.

The Club’s history over the last thirty years or so has been overshadowed by the figure of Jesus Gil, a businessman and politician who ran the club between 1987 and 2003. Gil i Gil’s direct style meant he rarely suffered managers who didn’t bring instant success and figures of the calibre of Menotti, Clemente, Ron Atkinson, Alfio Basile, Maturana and even club legend Luis Aragones were hired and fired in quick succession by the club chairman. Maybe Gil’s biggest misstep though, was to scrap the club’s youth academy in 1992, forcing a promising young striker named Raul to cross the city and join rivals Real Madrid – the rest is
history.

Atletico’s games with Barça have become a guarantee of goals and excitement over the last few seasons, with an average of over 4 goals a game over the last 20 years and to more than 5 under Guardiola, when Barça have lost twice in Madrid: 4-3 and 2-1, as well as winning 1-2 last season, whilst winning 6-1, 5-2, 3-0 and 5-0 at the Camp Nou.

Since Diego Simeone took over at the helm at Christmas, Atletico have been transformed, with four league draws and three wins and conceding only one goal- last week at Sporting, as well as beating Lazio 4-1 on aggregate to make the last 16 of the Europa League. Leo Messi’s record of 17 goals in 13 games against Atletico makes it tempting to focus on Madrid’s Belgian keeper Thibaut Courtois, who may well be kept busy by the Argentinean,
but undoubtedly the man of the moment for Simeone’s team is Radamel Falcao, signed in the summer from Porto for a club record €40 million. The Colombian, who was a sensational success for the 2011 Europa League winners, scoring 17 times in 14 games, has already chalked up two hat tricks for Atletico this season and bagged 14 goals in his 20 league appearances so far. His pace and two footed ability, combined with a real aerial threat make him a very complete forward and somebody the Barça defence will need to keep a very tight rein on. (via FCBarcelona.com)

Simeone faces his first match against FC Barcelona to face Atlético Madrid and spared no praise for the azulgranas and to his coach, Pep Guardiola.

"It will be a serious game, hard. Should be paid attention to detail and have a great concentration. Must be 110% to get the win," he said. And he added: "It's a difficult game and we must find a way to hurt them. I feel admiration for his work, how they manage to keep winning and stay motivated. I admire Guardiola and his players," he added.

Simeone also remembered Alexis Sánchez who agreed with River Plate. "I have great memories of him. He has had great coaches like Guardiola and Bielsa, which have strengthened as a player. It is a decisive player," he said.

The 'Cholo' does not believe that the fact of facing rival the likes of Barça players should make their loose focus to keep adding as they have done so far. "There are only three points. Work with the same idea . Come with humility and enthusiasm. try to do things as we have been doing. After the low and changes against Lazio, the response has been good. Hopefully the players will recover well and the team keep the excitement and intensity "he said.

The Argentine coach, still undefeated in front of rojiblanco played down his success merits and recalled that the work is only of the players. "Work is good for the players. They have found its best and that makes everything natural. Coaches rely on the results and what today goes well tomorrow can go wrong. To me what worries me is to keep the style , regardless of the ups and downs you have in football, "he said.

The Vicente Calderón will be filled to encourage Atletico. "I think the Barcelona players are not going to scare to see the full court, because they are used and have played a lot of late. I makes people happy and because there is a good communion between audience and players. This is crucial, "he said. (via SPORT)

Conscience Barça prepares visiting a euphoric Calderón to continue clinging to the dream of la Liga.
Recovered its best against Valencia, and now plays to strike at the table away from the Camp Nou.

The staff of the Barça is aware that the league goes this weekend in Madrid. While waiting for a slip the Real in Vallecas, one of those fields in which gain and lose the big teams championships, eleven azulgrana has to win to start cutting the ten points separating him from the leadership. A impossible? No, at least for a winner like Guardiola, who thoroughly prepared his visit to the euphoric Calderon to continue clinging to the dream league.

Barca recovered its best last weekend against Valencia (5-1, with four goals from Messi infallible) and now plays to strike at the table away from the Camp Nou, where the culés have left out a stream of points that Madrid has taken advantage of Mourinho, whose hobby is already celebrating the title at Cibeles.

Morning visit to pay plays a traditionally complicated scenario for the azulgrana side, who has only won 5 of their last 20 visits to Calderón in la Liga. A feud in which, incidentallythe Barça can be played also the title of Copa addition, all Pep will face 'Simeone effect' that has permeated some euphoria and self-esteem on a roll mattress convincing results that are leading both in the domestic championship and in Europe.

The azulgrana know they are to a great match. In the penultimate training session before the clash against Atletico, Pep worked hard tactics with his players. The Santpedor not want to leave any loose ends. Yesterday's was a closed session for the media who are not club. Today is repeated, starting at 18.00, also on the premises of Sant Joan Despí.

The coach Culé, who has lived another week of rumors and comments about their future, will come with all his arsenal to Calderón, the scene of star dulel goalscorer Messi- Falcão. With Keita ready to play again after his participation in the African Nations Cup, Guardiola has only low to Villa, Afellay and Fontàs, while Xavi has recharged batteries, like Alves, who has had five days off to 'disconnect '.

The visit to the Manzanares, where Barça and Atlético have fought great battles, it may mean a turning point for azulgrana ahead as more favorable schedule in March in which the culés will host Sporting and Granada, and will visit Racing, Sevilla and Mallorca.

With the 1/8 finals of the Champions almost finalized items, the advantage Culé compared to Madrid is that whites have yet to close their tie against CSKA Moscow. In addition, there are low by injury Benzema and Di Maria. For Barça, now or ever. (via MD)

La 'pulga' has been a nightmare for Atletico, who already has scored fourteen goals.
The Colombian has signed fourteen goals in their first twenty games in the Spanish League.

Atlético Madrid-Barcelona next Sunday at the Vicente Calderón will face the powerful shot by Colombian Radamel Falcao, Atletico striker against the unstoppable talent of Argentine Leo Messi and Barça striker who already has scored fourteen goals in this rival.

A duel of big scorers to beat and Messi in the first clash between the two players in the Liga BBVA, on 24 September 2011 at the Camp Nou in the sixth round in a match that ended 5-0 in favor of the premises and in which Barcelona scored three goals and his second treble Atlético.

Messi has been a nightmare for Atletico, who already has scored fourteen goals in eleven league clashes. At three collected in the first round of this course, add another four in their meetings last season, two in 2009-10, at 5-2 in the Nou Camp, two, in 2008-09, one in 2007 - 08, and two in 2006-07. (via MD)

The Turkish Arda Turan, Atlético Madrid midfielder is doubtful for Sunday's game against Barça by an overload in the adductor of the right thigh, suffered in training on Friday.

The footballer, who retired from the meeting for that reason, and subsequently underwent medical tests ruled out the break and confirming the overload. Their presence in the match against Barça depend on your progress in the coming hours and training on Saturday in Majadahonda.

Arda Turan's injury was the only mishap in the return to work Atletico after Thursday's victory against Lazio (1-0), in second leg of the knockout phase of the Europa League, the Madrid confirmed that all qualified for the next round of the competition.

The session also Adrián López and Argentine Eduardo Salvio were trained outside the group by an overload and a blow on his right ankle, respectively, but neither is of serious ailments and both will be available for Diego Pablo Simeone the duel against Barcelona.

Also be ready for that shock the Portuguese Tiago Mendes, now recovered from a contracture that had turned the last league match against Sporting and the first leg of the European League against Lazio. The center-half and went on Thursday in the call to the Italian, but did not play any minute.

The coach has only two low secure for the match against Barcelona's Brazilian playmaker Diego Ribas, who suffered a hamstring injury in Sunday's clash against Sporting Gijón and Antonio López, who continues his recovery from a hamstring injury. (via SPORT)

Another training session with all the available first teamers plus Cristian Tello of Barça B. The injured Villa and Afellay worked out in the gym.

Barça are still getting ready for Sunday's away fixture at the Vicente Calderón against Atlético Madrid (21.30). They trained behind closed doors today on pitch number 2 at the Ciutat Esportiva. The session involved the same set of players that have been training all week, namely the eighteen fit members of the first team and Cristian Tello of Barça B.

While the 19 players worked out on the field, the injured David Villa and Ibrahim Afellay continued with their recovery programmes in the gym.

The team's last session before facing Atlético Madrid will be on Saturday, once again behind closed doors at the Ciutat Esportiva, this time at 18.00. Afterwards, Pep Guardiola will be giving a press conference.

The FC Barcelona party will fly out from Barcelona to Madrid on Sunday morning, where the first encounter between Guardiola and Diego Simeone as opposing managers kicks off at 21.30. (via FCBarcelona.com)

The games between Barça and Atlético Madrid are synonymous with goals and spectacular entertainment. Over the last 20 years there have been an average of 4.14 goals a match.

A series of crazy games 20 years ago marked the beginning of one of the most amazing runs of matches between the two, in which big scores and great comebacks have proved to be the norm. The fixture has become one of La Liga's most attractive meetings and the spectacular stats show why - since the 1991/92 season, 153 goals in 37 games have been scored, at an average of 4.14 goals a game.

The first great game between the two in the 90s came on 20th September 1992, when Hristo Stoichkov got a hat-trick in the 1-4 win at the Vicente Calderón, when the home manager Luis Aragonés was shown a red card. That was to be the start of a great series of matches.

The following season, 1993/94, Barça were three up thanks to a first half hat-trick from Romario, but Atlético Madrid fought back to win 4-3. In the return game at the Camp Nou, Barça turned that result around and won 5-3, with Romario again getting three goals and Koeman and Vizacíno sent off in the first half, before Stoichkov and López were also dismissed before the final whistle.

There were similarly action-packed games in the 1994/95 campaign, when Pep Guardiola scored the opener in the 4-3 win at the Camp Nou against an Atlético team containing their current boss Simeone. Two years later, there was a 3-3 scoreline at the Camp Nou, when Giovanni equalised in the final minutes and soon after, in the quarter finals of the Spanish Cup, Sir Bobby Robson's men made a great fight back to win 5-4, with Pizzi getting a famous goal. Later on in the same season, Barça won 2-5 in Madrid, with a hat-trick from Ronaldo.

Between then and the beginning of the Guardiola era, there were plenty of other brilliant games, including a 5-2 win for Atlético Madrid in the 1997/98 season, with a Rivaldo goal from the middle of the pitch or the 0-6 win in 2006/07 when Messi marked his debut with a couple of goals - the first two of many that he has since scored against Atlético.

Under Guardiola, the number of goals per game has increased even more – to five goals a game. Barça have won all four games at the Camp Nou (6-1, 5-2, 3-0 and 5-0), whilst in Madrid there have been two wins for Atlético (4-3 and 2-1) and one for Barça, last season's 1-2 win. (via FCBarcelona.com)

Barça has trained with the same 18 first team players plus Tello as at Wednesday’s first session of the week. Guardiola’s team is still focused on preparations for Sunday’s Liga fixture at Atlético Madrid (21.30).

FC Barcelona have worked out on Thursday morning on pitch number 1 at the Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper with all attention focused on Sunday's away game at the Vicente Calderón against Atlético Madrid (21.30). Pep Guardiola used all the same players he had with him on Wednesday afternoon, namely the 18 available members of the first team plus Barça B's Cristian Tello. So, the only missing players were the injured Villa, Afellay and Fontàs.

The team will train again on Thursday at 11.00, again at Sant Joan Despí. (via FCBarcelona.cat)

The Argentinian has scored 17 goals against the team from Madrid in a total of 13 games, and has scored “hat-trick” in the last two matches.

This Sunday Leo Messi will be face to face with his favourite victims: Athletico Madrid. Messi has scored 17 times in 13 games, and has become the nightmare of the Madrid outfit.

Atletico Madrid is by far the team that Lionel Messi has scored more against, with 17 goals. They're followed by Sevilla and Real Madrid with 13 goals each. Against Athletico, 14 goals have been in the League Cup and 3 in the Cup, in 11 and 2 matches respectively.

Especially significant are the most recent precedents against Athletico Madrid. In the last two matches, both at the Camp Nou, Messi has scored two 'hat-tricks' (3-0 on 5th February 2011 and 5-0 on 24th September 2011).

Before that Leo Messi had already scored a hat-trick at the Vicente Calderon in a match in the last 16 of the Cup, on 6th January 2009. On Sunday he'll have another chance to improve his scandalous figures. (via FCBarcelona.com)

The Barça have held this Wednesday afternoon the first workout of the week to prepare for Sunday's game in the field of Atletico Madrid (21.30 hours). Pep Guardiola has conducted a session with the 18 first team players available and Cristian Tello, Barça B.

After the exhibition on Sunday against Valencia at the Camp Nou and enjoy two holidays, the first team has returned to work Wednesday afternoon in field number 2 of the Ciudad Deportiva Joan Gamper. Pep Guardiola has conducted a training session with the 18 first team players available and Cristian Tello, Barça B. Keita, who last week rejoined the Barça, is back training with his teammates. The only absentees on Wednesday have been those of the injured Afellay, Villa and Fontàs.

The team, therefore, already works with the mind set in this Sunday's match at the Vicente Calderón against Atlético Madrid (21.30 hours). (via FCBarcelona.cat)

Barça, with their current manager on the pitch, won the League in 1994 against Sevilla, managed by the current Athletico Madrid manager. Guardiola also scored his first goal against Simeone’s side.

Pep Guardiola and Diego Pablo Simeone, this Sunday, will transport their battles from the pitch to the benches. The current Barça and Athletico Madrid managers met six times in the league as players, between 1993 and 1997. Against 'Cholo', Guardiola won his fourth League Title and scored his first goal in the Championship.

The first two Simeone - Guardiola battles were games against Sevilla, and ended with two goalless draws (1992/93 and 1993/94). The third meeting on 15th May 1994, could only be dreamed about: Barça were playing for the League Title against the Andalusians on the last day. They had to win and hope for Deportivo to slip up against Valencia. It happened. The Barça victory, combined with the draw in Galicia, where Djukic missed a penalty in injury time, gave the Dream Team their fourth consecutive League Title. That was the last game for Simeone at Sevilla. A goodbye with a goal included.

Simeone's next destination was Athletico Madrid. In 1995, in one of those crazy games between Barça and Athletico, Pep Guardiola scored his first goal in the League in a 4-3 win. It was a fantastic goal, with his left foot, right into the top corner. The last two games between them were in the 1996/97 season and were full of goals: 3-3 at the Camp Nou and 2-5 at the Vicente Calderon. Guardiola, a great organiser, and Simeone, the lungs of the team, will meet again fifteen years later on Sunday. Now, however, they'll greet each other from the bench. (via FCBarcelona.com)

The Atletico Madrid Brazilian midfielder, Diego Ribas suffered a broken fibers in the rectus femoris of the quadriceps of the right thigh, as confirmed by tests that are submitted this Monday.

Diego had to retire injured in the course of the meeting that his team measured with Sporting Gijón in El Molinón and ended with the end result of a tie.

The midfielder was already on Monday morning under the command of physiotherapists to start the recovery process of his physical problems and was not yet know the exact extent of the injury.

Waiting to know the exact time will be out for, Diego certainly will miss the return of the knockout phase of Europa League against Lazio, which takes place next Thursday and the meeting that the weekend face to the mattress with Barcelona at the Vicente Calderón. (via SPORT)

The market rumors do not turn off ever. Now, for example, speak of the possibility that Adrián, Atlético forward, ending in Barcelona.

It is "elconfidencial.com" he explained Saturday that Adrián López 24 year old forward of Atlético Madrid, has been offered to FC Barcelona. As they explain, it was the player's agent, Eugene Botas, who has offered and provided by this news, offering liked at Can Barça.

Adrián is one of the revelations of Atlético Madrid and already sounds like future player to be reckoned by Vicente del Bosque. This season he has scored 13 goals, 6 in la Liga, 6 in Europa League and 1 in the Copa del Rey. Also, past European under-21 already had an outstanding performance.

If Deportivo La Coruña, his former club, did not succeed, now at Atletico things have changed completely, and for good, Adrián. (via SPORT)

The schedules of the next games of Barça they are already known in Liga. Concretely knows when it will play against Athletic, Sporting and Racing.

FC Barcelona visit the Vicente Calderon to play against Atletico Madrid on Sunday, 26 February, 21:30. With the Sporting played at Camp Nou on Saturday March 3 at 20:00 and in front Racing, Sunday, March 11, at 18:00 in the Sardinero.

Recall that between Asturias and Cantabria game before, they will play the crucial knockout round of the Champions League at the Camp Nou, against Bayer Leverkusen.

Below we indicate the times of the three matches Barça B: Barça B-Hercules (Friday, February 24, 21:00), Recreativo-Barça B (Sunday, March 4, at 19:45) and Sabadell-Barcelona B (Saturday, March 10, at 18:00). (via SPORT)

Sporting Braga de Portugal has decided to dispense exazulgrana Fran Merida, who was on loan from Atletico Madrid until end of season.

Fuentes of the club luso confirmed to EFE that the Barca squad of 21 years, no longer trains with the squad by decision of the coach, Leonardo Jardim, and assured that his move back to belong to the rojiblanca.

Merida had played just seven games so far this season, which had just scored a goal. minutes enjoyed Braga calling at the line last summer paid off in seven games with a goal. (via SPORT)