London, 21 December 2024 (PA Media/dpa/MIA) - Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone hopes he can finally find the key to beating Barcelona on their own turf as the sides go head to head in a top-of-the-table tussle on Saturday.

Barcelona lead LaLiga on goal difference from Atletico heading into their clash at Montjuic but have wobbled to one win in six top-flight games.

Simeone’s men by contrast are flying and have won six straight league matches out of an 11-game victorious streak in all competitions.

In order to end the year ahead of Barca, Atletico must break new ground under Simeone and win a league game in Catalonia.

“It’s a good thing I haven’t won there in my life. I’ve won everywhere and I’ve won a league there. It’s a challenge to improve,” Simeone told reporters at a press conference on Friday.

“It has cost us a lot. The numbers speak for themselves. Obviously I haven’t found the key.

“The team is working well as a unit, looking for opportunities in each game to hurt the opponent, to compete and improve.

“We face a team that plays very well. I like their youth in the midfield. Raphinha is one of the best in the league for his courage and style of play. We have our strengths for a game that will surely be entertaining.”

Simeone has a full squad available to face Barcelona, who will be without star winger Lamine Yamal and defender Andreas Christiansen due to injury. Former Brighton loanee Ansu Fati is available for selection.

Barcelona coach Hansi Flick is adamant that, despite the side’s contrasting fortunes and Atletico’s game in hand, the outcome must not be viewed as decisive either way.

“I wouldn’t call it a ‘final’. Saturday’s result won’t decide the league, because the season is long and we have to continue working,” the German said.

Their last two home matches in the league have ended in defeats to Las Palmas and Leganes, but Flick said: “We do well against the big teams.

“This season we want to achieve big things and we will keep working. The next step is to play well against a great team.”

There was once a possibility of this game being played in Miami, with LaLiga having earmarked it as the first in a series of domestic league matches over the coming years to be played overseas.

However, plans to stage this game on the other side of the Atlantic were put on hold, with league president Javier Tebas set to revisit the idea next season.

Photo: MIA Archive