Champions League 2025-2026: Atletico Madrid-Barcelona, the likely lineups
At 9 p.m., the Metropolitano prepares to host a fiery in-or-out night. Atletico Madrid and Barcelona take on each other in the return leg of the Champions League quarterfinals, with the Colchoneros strong from their 2-0 win at Camp Nou. Simeone’s team has the task of defending the lead to fly into the semifinals, while Hansi Flick’s Barcelona is called upon to pull off a real feat; a reversal already narrowly missed in the return leg of the King’s Cup, when the Blaugrana came close to coming back from a four-goal deficit, but stopped at three. Making the mission even more complex will be the absence of the disqualified Cubarsì in defense and the probable choice of not fielding Lewandowski from the first minute by deploying him in the second half.
Simeone lines up the team with the same structure as in the first leg. Between the posts Musso in place of Oblak, with the four-man defense composed of Molina and Ruggeri on the outsides, with the Le Normand-Lenglet pair in the middle. In midfield, Koke will be the central pivot flanked by Llorente and the dynamic Simeone, with Lookman pushing on the flank. In attack, Antoine Griezmann will pair with the man who unlocked the first leg, Argentine Julian Alvarez.
Hansi Flick attempts to pull off the feat at the Metropolitano. In front of Joan Garcia, the defense is led by Koundé and Cancelo, with Eric Garcia and Gerard Martin in the middle. The real surprise is in the midfield, where Dani Olmo and Pedri will manage the pace of the game. In the three-quarter, room for Lamine Yamal and the quickness of Rashford on the outsides, with Fermin a central forcer. In attack, without Lewandowski from the first minute, it will be Ferran Torres’ turn to be the offensive reference.
Aletico Madrid-Barcelona, probable lineups
Aletico Madrid (4-4-2): Musso; Molina, Le Normand, Lenglet, Ruggeri; Simeone, Llorente, Koke, Lookman; Griezmann, Alvarez. All. Simeone.
Barcelona (4-2-3-1): J. Garcia; Kounde, Eric Garcia, Gerard Martin, Cancelo; Dani Olmo, Pedri; Lamine Yamal, Fermin, Rashford; Ferran Torres. All. Flick.
