In La Liga, there is a proper title race between Barcelona and the two big Madrid clubs.
Top of the league, with 38 points, Barcelona have an opportunity to put some distance between themselves and second-placed Atletico Madrid on Saturday night.
PP tipster Oli Nixon is back with four foul picks; let’s get his Barcelona v Atletico Madrid betting tips.
Barcelona v Atletico Madrid Bet Builder tips
Marc Casado to commit 2+ fouls
Clement Lenglet to commit 1+ fouls
Javi Galan to be fouled 1+ times
Both teams to score – No
- A Bet Builder with these bets pays at approximately 9/1 with Paddy Power. CLICK HERE TO ADD IT TO YOUR BETSLIP.
WHEN: Saturday, 21st of December, 8pm
WHERE: Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys, Barcelona
TV: ITV 4, Premier Sports, LaLiga TV
All set for their winter break in La Liga with no worries about balancing family commitments with festive football, you’d expect the Spanish sides would be winding down already. Just the small matter of a top-of-the-table clash to get through between Barcelona and Atletico Madrid before the players can tuck into their Christmas sangrias!
Marc Casado to commit 2+ fouls
At just 21 years old, Marc Casado has found a place in the heart of Barcelona’s midfield, looking to follow in the footsteps of legends Iniesta and Xavi. He’s drawn many plaudits for his tenacity and has made plenty of fouls this season.
He’s committed 1.54 fouls per 90 in the league and two or more in each of his last four games domestically.
Casado’s opponents in the middle of the park will be Pablo Barrios and Rodrigo De Paul, who have drawn 2.62 fouls per 90 minutes between them in La Liga. In particular, we can expect the Argentinian De Paul to use every bit of his experience to tempt the youngster into some late challenges.
Clement Lenglet to commit 1+ fouls
A player no stranger to infringements is Atletico’s well-travelled centre-back Clement Lenglet. The Frenchman has a career record of 1.2 fouls per game for club and country and has lived up to his reputation this season, committing 1.92 fouls per 90. He’s made at least one foul in all but one of his 8 La Liga starts.
Opposing Lenglet will be the prolific Robert Lewandowski, who has drawn 1.36 fouls per 90 this season. The Pole is La Liga’s top goal-scorer, scoring 16 goals in 17 games, so Lenglet will be keen to make his mark early and ‘let him know he’s there’.
Javi Galan to be fouled 1+ times
A shining light in the joint best defence in the division has been Atletico’s left-back Javi Galan. The Spaniard has been strong in the tackle but also a threat in the attacking third, something that’s seen him draw 1.84 fouls per 90.
He’s started seven league fixtures and has been fouled at least once in 5 of those, including having drawn 11 fouls in his last five.
Galan will be tasked with containing Gavi and Kounde down Barcelona’s right-hand side as Yamine Lamal is injured. That pair has combined for 4.57 fouls per 90 between them this season, so there will be plenty of opportunities for Galan to go down.
Both teams to score – No
The final leg of our Bet Builder may seem intriguing at first glance, especially as both teams have found the net in four of Barca’s seven home games, and both Leganes and Las Palmas have recently beaten them on their patch.
However, Atletico are much tighter and have seen this bet land in five of their eight away games and each of their last three. Of particular note is the head-to-head record between these sides, where Barcelona have won each of the previous four ties to nil.
This fixture has only seen both teams score once in the last eight meetings, so it’s clear that Simeone has historically struggled to break Barcelona down.
Barcelona v Atletico Madrid betting tips
Marc Casado to commit 2+ fouls
Clement Lenglet to commit 1+ fouls
Javi Galan to be fouled 1+ times
Both teams to score – No
- A Bet Builder with these bets pays at approximately 9/1 with Paddy Power. CLICK HERE TO ADD IT TO YOUR BETSLIP.
*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change.
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