Atletico Madrid will visit Barcelona's Camp Nou with the chance of extending their complicated start in La Liga for 2015. Last year, Simeone's crew managed to top Barcelona in the Spanish top-flight, pulling off a stunning performance in the league's final game that signified Atletico's first title in almost 20 years. With Messi and coach Luis Enrique allegedly angry with each other, Atletico should try to win following some -if not all- of these pointers.
1. Cutting Barcelona's midfield display
Perhaps the best team without the ball in professional football these days, Atletico Madrid's midfield has the special power of cutting every circuit their rivals circulate the ball in. Simeone has stated that whenever they face Real Madrid, they should let them own the ball as long as it is not controlled by Cristiano Ronaldo. On Sunday, Atletico could give total ball control to Barcelona, as long as it doesn't end in Lionel Messi's feet. If they can extend the amount of time players like Pique or Busquets own the ball, then Atletico will have the best chance of earning a better result.
2. Attack on Dani Alves
Dani Alves' qualities as a defender per se have been questioned throughout the years. His attacking display tends to compensate his lack of defensive ability, but when he's not helping hurt the other team, Alves is a standard player. Antoine Griezmann used to make him look bad while playing for Real Sociedad, and Sunday could be an extension of the same old story. The key for Atletico? Attack Alves via Antoine Griezmann.
3. Set pieces
Atletico Madrid are experts during set pieces situations on both ends of the pitch. Taking into account Barcelona are not the goal scoring maestros in these type of play, Atletico should focus on their attacking formation. Last year, when they were fighting Los Blaugranas for the title, Diego Godin scored the title-winning goal by heading a corner kick...while defended by Gerard Pique. Their recent success can be credited to such strategies, and Sunday shouldn't be any different.
4. Defending Lionel Messi
Even if the Argentinian is not on a good day, he can change the outcome of a match all by himself. So, master tactician Diego Simeone should repeat the same approach as last year, when Los Cules were not able to win a single match against Atletico. Lionel Messi was denied a single goal against Los Colchoneros in their six meetings, so they should consider making Messi fail.
5. Keeping Neymar close
If Messi was unable to score against them last year, Neymar represents the opposite. The Brazilian was the only one in Barca's squad that penetrated Thibaut Courtois' net more than once in their six meetings. With Luis Suarez yet to demonstrate why he was hired to be Barcelona's number 9, the defenders should focus a tad more in stopping the South American wingman. This year, Neymar's display has been even better as days go by, and on Sunday Atletico's defenders could be in for a hard time facing the flamboyant number 11.
