Good evening. Niall will be here shortly. Until then, here’s Sid Lowe on the trouble that may find Barcelona if they lose once again against Atlético:
The last time Diego Simeone was at the Camp Nou, back in May of last year, the Atlético Madrid manager was applauded by the home fans. The last time Barcelona’s manager, Luis Enrique, was at the Camp Nou, on Thursday, he was whistled by the home fans. On Sunday night they meet again, seven months on. For Barcelona there could hardly be a worse opponent: this is a club in crisis with a manager staring into the abyss while behind him they wait to nudge him over the edge.
Atlético and Barcelona met six times last season. Atlético did not lose any of them: they knocked Barcelona out of the Champions League and on the final day took the La Liga title. If that run continues, the consequences in Catalonia are likely to be even more dramatic – and they have been dramatic already. This is one of Spain’s biggest games, a fascinating match, yet it has become one where the focus will be on the bench, the directors’ box and the stands as well as the pitch.
