Barcelona vs. Atletico Madrid: Picks, Predictions, Odds and Player Props

The title race in Spain is hotting up with the three giants separated by just one point at the top of La Liga.

Real Madrid sit third, one point behind Barcelona and Atletico Madrid, and it is the leading duo who do battle on Saturday at Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys in Montjuic.

Barcelona vs. Atletico Madrid betting picks and predictions

Tie or Atletico Madrid Double Chance (-110)

Atletico Madrid are the form team in Europe at the moment and they can overcome their latest test by taking at least a point from their road trip to Barcelona on Saturday.

Atletico have won 11 consecutive matches to make progress in La Liga, the UEFA Champions League and Copa del Rey and they are worth backing to win or tie on the Double Chance market at Barcelona.

Diego Simeone's side have gone back to basics in recent weeks in reaction to a set of results in October which suggested Atletico were done as a force at Europe's top table.

Atletico were beaten 4-0 by Benfica, lost 3-1 at home to Lille and were 1-0 losers to Real Betis, before reeling off this perfect run of results, the highlight of which was a 2-1 victory at Paris Saint-Germain.

Last week's 1-0 win against Getafe was not far short of a perfect performance on defense as Atletico gave up only 0.2 against on expected goals. It was a sixth shutout in 11 matches and goalkeeper Jan Oblak is up to the task of keeping Robert Lewandowski at bay.

Barcelona must have felt like the league race would be easy following a 4-0 win over Real Madrid in late October, but they have since had some shocking results.

Barca have lost at Real Sociedad and at home to Las Palmas and Leganes in two of the biggest upsets in European football this season.

There are two problems for Barcelona. Firstly, they have kept only one shutout in their last 10 games and secondly superstar Lamine Yamal is injured. 

Under 3.0 Goal Line (-105)

There is not a better equipped team in world football to nullify opponents and Atletico seemed destined to want to suffocate this match.

A low-scoring game is likely to play out and backing Under 3 on the Goal Line makes sense. Your bet is a winner if there are no more than two goals and stakes are returned if there are three goals. Four or more is a loser.

Atleti are relentless in their 4-4-2 shape with hard-working forwards Antoine Griezmann and Julian Alvarez setting the tone for the rest of the team. 

Oblak is an outstanding goalkeeper and the same can be said for centre-back Jose Gimenez, although both get excellent protection from midfielders Rodrigo De Paul and Pablo Barrios. 

The Simeone template is set over more than a decade and this head-to-head is usually low-scoring. In the last 22 league meetings, 15 went under three goals, three went over and four were a tie so history is very much in favor of those siding with the under. 

Marc Casado to be booked (+300)

Frenkie de Jong and Gavi are two of the bigger names on the Barcelona roster, however, they both may have to settle for a place on the bench with Hansi Flick preferring Marc Casado alongside Pedri in midfield.

Casado, a 21-year-old with a huge future ahead of him, has earned his spot in the team but he will be tested by Atletico's ability to get under the skin of their opponents.

It won't be easy to keep calm in such a big game and Casado looks overpriced to be carded. He was sent off for two bookable offences in the November tie at Celta Vigo and he was also carded away to Real Madrid.

Griezmann is likely to drop into the kind of areas where Casado will have to mark the French World Cup winner and that will be a thorough examination of the youngster, while the rumours in Madrid suggest Conor Gallagher could nominally play off the left, which will only increase the traffic in central areas.

Read more betting picks and predictions for Soccer on site.

Barcelona vs. Atletico Madrid odds

Barcelona	-112
Tie	+280
Atletico Madrid	+290

Barcelona vs. Atletico Madrid player props

Anytime Goalscorer

Robert Lewandowski (Barcelona)	+125
Raphinha (Barcelona)	+175
Pau Victor (Barcelona)	+175
Alexander Sorloth (Atletico Madrid)	+210
Julian Alvarez (Atletico Madrid)	+210
Antoine Griezmann (Atletico Madrid)	+275

Read the latest Soccer news on site.

This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.