‘Atletico are one of many solely groups that may problem the highest two – Barcelona need to win’

On Dec 21, 2024

EXCLUSIVE Barcelona and Atletico Madrid will go toe-to-toe on Saturday evening, and despite being top of the table Barcelona legend Albert Ferrer thinks Barcelona have to win

21:28, 21 Dec 2024Updated 21:30, 21 Dec 2024

Jules Kounde of FC Barcelona reacts after a missed chance during the LaLiga match between FC Barcelona and CD Leganes at Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys on December 15, 2024 in Barcelona, Spain.

Barcelona must beat Atletico Madrid on Saturday, according to a Barca icon(Image: Getty Images)

“I think, since Simone took over, Atletico has become one of the very few teams that they can fight against Barcelona and Real Madrid, in terms of winning La Liga,” Albert Ferrer admitted when speaking to Daily Star Sport .

Ferrer knows a thing or two about battling with the Madrid outfit; he was involved in several high-scoring clashes between Barcelona and Atleti in the 1990s.

“They were always games with a lot of goals in that in that period,” he joked. One such clash, in 1993, saw the Blaugrana cruising as, thanks to a Romario first-half hat-trick, they went into the break three goals to the good.

Barcelona, boasting their so-called ‘superteam’, came out for the second period and were stunned by Atleti – who scored four times to secure all three points.

“We scored a lot of goals, but defensively, we played very open; there was a lot of space and that, well, that made it easy for our rivals to score goals,” Ferrer added.

Albert Ferrer looks on before the UEFA Champions League Semi Final first leg match between Barcelona and Liverpool at the Nou Camp on May 01, 2019 in Barcelona, Spain.

Albert Ferrer thinks Barca have troubles at the back(Image: Getty Images)

Saturday (December 21) will see the two old rivals battle once more, with Barcelona coming off the back of a shock defeat.

Hansi Flick’s side, despite sitting pretty at the perch of the La Liga table, must beat Atleti on Saturday, according to their former hero. “They’re in a good moment, while Barcelona are having some doubts – mainly in defence.

“But normally Barcelona kind of reacts pretty good in these circumstances,” Ferrer continued. “They have to win the game. Otherwise, I won’t say it will be difficult to win La Liga, because there are still a lot of games to play. But they certainly need to get a win.”

Atletico Madrid's Julian Alvarez in action in front of Real Madrid's Aurelien Tchouameni during the La Liga soccer match between Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid at the Metropolitano stadium in Madrid, Spain, Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024

Atletico Madrid can leapfrog Barcelona on Saturday(Image: AP)

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Despite being top of the table, Atleti and Real both have a game in hand over Barcelona. And a win for Simeone’s side would see them leapfrog Barca and then have the chance to extend that gap to five points.

Ferrer added: “The last five or six games in La Liga have been very poor in terms of results. So they need, really to react!”

Barcelona vs. Atlético Madrid will air in the UK on Saturday 21st December at 8pm on ITV4 with Premier Sports also showing LALIGA action throughout the season.