La Liga giants Barcelona host Atalanta in the Champions League on Wednesday, and we’ve got the latest team news and predicted lineups, as well as a prediction included within our preview.
Barcelona vs Atalanta Preview
Having already booked their spot in the last-16 with a top eight finish, La Liga giants Barcelona welcome reigning Europa League winners Atalanta to the Estadi OlĂmpic LluĂs Companys on MD8 of the Champions League league phase.
La Blaugrana occupy second place in the table heading into the final matchday, three points adrift of leaders Liverpool and two points clear of third place Arsenal and fourth place Inter Milan.
Last time out, Hansi Flick’s side sealed a dramatic 5-4 win over Benfica. With less than 15 minutes remaining, Barca trailed 4-2, but goals from Robert Lewandowski and Eric Garcia restored the parity late on, before former Leeds United winger Raphinha snatched all three points with an injury-time winner.
They have since followed that up with a 7-1 win over Valencia in the Spanish top-flight, where they remain in third place, seven points adrift of leaders Real Madrid and three points behind Atletico Madrid.
Like a rock. đȘ @RonaldAraujo_4 pic.twitter.com/EW8ajuoLbH
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) January 28, 2025
As for Atalanta, they are currently in seventh place in the Champions League table after their 5-0 win over Sturm Graz on MD7, and they will likely need to beat Barcelona in order to confirm last-16 qualification.
Gian Piero Gasperini’s side have already faced off against one La Liga side in the competition this term, in which they fell to a 3-2 defeat at the hands of Real Madrid in Bergamo on MD6.
They head into this one off the back of a narrow 2-1 victory over Cesc Fabregas’ Como in the Italian top-flight on Saturday afternoon, where star striker Mateo Retegui netted a brace to make it five goals in his last four games.
Barcelona Team News
Barca remain without long-term absentees Marc-Andre ter Stegen (knee) and Marc Bernal (knee), while Inigo Martinez (hamstring), Andreas Christensen (calf) and Dani Olmo (calf) are also due to miss out.
Pedri, who missed the win over Valencia at the weekend, could return after recovering from illness.
Atalanta Team News
As for the visitors, they are without Odilon Koussounou (adductor) and Gianluca Scamacca (knee), while Marten de Roon is being reported as a minor doubt after suffering a clash of heads against Como.
In more positive news, Swedish central defender Isak Hien should make his return to the lineup after missing out through suspension at the weekend.
Barcelona vs Atalanta Predicted Lineups
Barcelona Predicted Lineup:
Szczesny; Kounde, Araujo, Cubarsi, Balde; Casado, De Jong; Yamal, Gavi, Raphinha; Lewandowski
Atalanta Predicted Lineup:
Carnesecchi; Toloi, Hien, Kolasinac; Palestra, Ederson, De Roon, Zappacosta; Lookman, De Ketelaere; Retegui
Barcelona vs Atalanta Prediction
The UK’s best football betting sites have Barca as clear favourites to prevail on Wednesday, at around 8/11, while a victory for the visitors is priced at 31/10 and a draw is valued at around 10/3.
Atalanta have impressed in the Champions League this term, but Barcelona, simply put, have been one of the best teams in the competition.
We at SportsCasting suspect that this will become evident on Wednesday, as we’re backing the hosts to extend their unbeaten run across all competitions to eight straight matches with a comfortable triumph over their Italian counterparts.
Prediction: Barcelona 3-1 Atalanta
