Key events
The teams are primed in the ‘tunnel’ which is more spacious than my house.
Barcelona know a thing or two about comebacks in the Champions League.
Joleon Lescott and Joe Cole want Barcelona to go through because they have Englishman Marcus Rashford. I should point out that Atletico’s Ademola Lookman was born in Wandsworth.
It looks quite lively on the streets of Madrid. Pyro galore to welcome the team to the stadium.
Marcus Rashford is on the bench tonight. Could he make the difference later on?
Alternatively, you can join Rob Smyth for Liverpool v PSG, if you’re a bit more mainstream.
Starting lineups
Atletico (4-4-2): Musso; Molina, Le Normand, Lenglet, Ruggeri; Simeone, Koke, Llorente; Lookman; Griezmann; Alvarez
Subs: Oblak, Esquivel, Mnedoza, Cardoso, Sorloth, Alex Baena, Almada, Vargas, Gonzalez, Dani Martinez, Bonar, Julio Diaz
Barcelona (4-2-3-1): Joan Garcia; Kounde, Eric Garcia, Martin, Cancelo; Pedri, Gavi; Yamal, Olmo, Fermin Lopez; Ferran Torres
Subs: Szczesny, Kochen, Balde, Araujo, Lewndowski, Rashford, Casado, De Jong, Bardghji, Cortes, Xavi Espert, Marques
Pre-match reading.
Preamble
Losing 2-0 at home in the first leg of a Champions League knockout tie is never a particularly good idea but this is the situation Barcelona find themselves in. The Catalans, however, will not feel defeated despite having to travel to the capital to face the miserly Diego Simeone and his charges. A mere 10 days ago Barcelona came out on top in the Wanda Metropolitano, although a repeat of the 2-1 scoreline will not be enough.
We must assume that Barcelona will not die wondering tonight and it should be an intense game. If Hansi Flick’s side manage to get one early, then it could become a classic of the genre, and that is what the neutral will be hoping for.
Kick-off: 8pm BST.
