Atletico Madrid set to play without super-sub against Barcelona due to suspension – Report | OneFootball

FC Barcelona are well aware of the massive hurdles that are coming their way in the coming weeks. March is always a crucial month during any football season, but the set of matches this month for La Blaugrana are truly difficult. However, as Barcelona take one step at a time, so do their opponents.

The very next game for the Catalan giants is against SL Benfica at the Montjuic Stadium. Set to be the second-leg in the Round of 16 tie between Barcelona and the Portuguese side, it is a match that Hansi Flick’s team will enter with a slight 1-0 advantage from the first leg.

Right after that game, however, Barcelona will be playing away against Atletico Madrid at the Metropolitano. An all-important La Liga clash between two teams competing for the title currently, it is one that both sides will be going all out for in order to get the crucial three points.

However, ahead of the match itself, there is some bad news for Atletico Madrid and Diego Simeone. As highlighted by SPORT, birthday boy Angel Correa was sent off in Atletico Madrid’s most recent La Liga game against Getafe away from home.

Due to some harsh language used by the Argentinian forward, as per the referee’s report of the incident, it is a case that could end up being more severe than just the one-game suspension. Instead, a multiple game suspension could reportedly be handed out to the player as well.

For Simeone, this is a rather unwanted blow that could see him lose firepower against Barcelona. Throughout this season, Atletico Madrid has been a team that thrives off the impact that certain late substitutes can bring to the game, and Correa was undoubtedly among such players for the Madrid-based side as a ‘super-sub’ of sorts.

While his goal record against Barcelona is not exactly sublime, having scored twice in 21 appearances, his pace and energy are still certain qualities of his that can trouble the Catalan side. Instead, Alexander Sorloth might be the only real attacking option on the bench for Simeone against Barcelona in the upcoming La Liga encounter, but he does happen to have a good track record against La Blaugrana.

Last time these two sides met, it was a 4-4 draw at the Montjuic Stadium during the first leg of their Copa del Rey semi-final. This time around, however, there are no second legs for this game and there are only some very crucial points at stake for both teams.