Atletico Madrid will host Barcelona at home. Ahead of the match, Marca reviewed the two teams' past records: the Barcelona coach has a superior record against Simeone's Atletico Madrid, though Atletico kept them out of the Copa del Rey and Champions League last season.
Flick and Simeone will meet again in the dugout. This clash has a history since the German coach arrived at Barcelona. The two coaches' past records are enough to show that this rivalry has historical significance, with the German holding a clear advantage. However, the Argentinian is the coach who has most frequently defeated Barcelona in the past two seasons. The head-to-head record stands at 6 wins, 1 draw, and 3 losses for Barcelona.
In the league, Flick's Barcelona and Simeone's Atletico Madrid have met 4 times, with Barcelona losing only once. That was in the 2024/25 season at the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys. Sørloth scored in the last minute, helping the *Colchoneros* snatch an undeserved victory in their final match before the Christmas break. In the second leg of that season, Flick's team routed their opponents 4-2 at the Metropolitano Stadium. In Flick's first season, the two teams also met in the Copa del Rey. The first leg saw a 4-4 goal-fest for Barcelona, while the second leg ended in a 0-1 defeat in Madrid.
The 2025/26 season further intensified this rivalry. Barcelona won both league encounters, 3-1 and 1-2, but Atletico Madrid secured a resounding 4-0 victory in the first leg of the Copa del Rey semi-final. Barcelona came close to a historic comeback in the second leg but ultimately fell short with a 3-0 win.
The two teams also crossed paths in the Champions League. In the quarter-finals, Atletico Madrid dealt a heavy 2-0 blow to Barcelona at Spotify Camp Nou, while Flick's team came close to a comeback at the Metropolitano Stadium when they were 1-2 down. Both matches were full of controversy, with Barcelona having a player sent off in both legs: Cubarsi received a red card in the first leg, and Eric Garcia in the second.
Flick will strive to ensure his team controls the initiative, using high intensity and continuous attacks into the box to pressure Atletico Madrid. For Barcelona, the key is to capitalize on opportunities, as Simeone's Atletico Madrid is very adept at interpreting different phases of the game. Although they are now more attack-minded than in previous seasons, Atletico has proven its ability to adapt to various situations and exploit opponents' weaknesses. They can hurt their opponents without completely dominating the game.
The battle at the Metropolitano Stadium will determine the league leader, and the role of the coaches will be crucial in this clash. Flick's Barcelona must prove they have learned from previous setbacks against Atletico Madrid, while for Simeone, the challenge is to once again test his team's ability to cope with one of Europe's strongest attacking forces.