La Liga paradox: Madrid desperately cheer for Atleti
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Reading Time: 2min | Sat. 04.04.26. | 12:51
Barcelona's derby clash against Los Colchoneros (22.00) is one of the last chances for the Catalans to drop points in the La Liga title race and give hope to Los Blancos
Atletico Madrid and Barcelona have faced each other three times this season and will lock horns as many times in the following ten days!
Thanks to the Champions League quarter-final draw, which paired them up, Hansi Flick and Diego Simeone's crews will meet today (22.00) in La Liga and on April 8 and April 14 in the UCL.
Two of their three previous clashes came this year, in mid-February and the beginning of March, when Atleti knocked Barca out of the Copa del Rey 4-3 on aggregate. In their first La Liga duel in the current campaign, the Catalans triumphed 3-1 at Camp Nou.
Who will conquer? 👑 pic.twitter.com/ivinNDpjJW
— LALIGA English (@LaLigaEN) March 31, 2026
Paradoxically, Real Madrid - which face Mallorca on the road today (17.15) - will be fully behind their fierce city rivals, supporting them with all their heart, as this is one of the last chances for Barcelona to drop points in the La Liga title race.
The Catalans are currently four points up and, excluding the upcoming El Clasico (scheduled for May 10), they do not have a tougher challenge than Atleti.
Simeone's team has already secured its place in the UCL for the next season, so there's no pressure on Los Colchoneros. Still, their rivalry with Barca is heated, and they won't let the visitors get away with a win at Metropolitano Stadium just like that.
Hence, if Real Madrid beat Mallorca, as everyone expects, the derby clash between Atleti and Barcelona could either further complicate the La Liga title race or pave the way for the Catalans' eventual back-to-back silverware.
LA LIGA - MATCHDAY 30
Friday
Rayo Vallecano - Elche 1-0 (0-0)
/Nteka 74/
Saturday
15.00: (1.63) Sociedad (3.80) Levante (5.70)
17.15: (5.45) Mallorca (4.30) Real Madrid (1.58)
19.30: (1.73) Betis (3.60) Espanyol (5.10)
22.00: (3.00) Atletico Madrid (3.95) Barcelona (2.25)
Sunday
15.00: (3.10) Getafe (2.80) Athletic Bilbao (2.70)
17.15: (2.35) Valencia (3.20) Celta (3.25)
19.30: (2.85) Oviedo (2.95) Sevilla (2.75)
22.00: (2.50) Alaves (3.15) Osasuna (3.00)
Monday
22.00: (3.15) Girona (3.50) Villarreal (2.35)
***odds are subject to change***