Barcelona vs Atalanta: Prediction, Preview & Betting Tips

Barcelona’s current form should provide enough quality to defeat an Atalanta team that has been impressive this season.

The hosts boast numerous attacking options, leading the competition with 26 goals across seven matches. Barcelona enters this match unbeaten in their last seven matches across all competitions, while Atalanta has secured only two wins in their last six matches.

Defensively, Barcelona has shown vulnerabilities, which could benefit the visiting Italians, as the hosts have not kept a clean sheet in their last five games. Matches involving Barcelona frequently promise goals, with Over 2.5 goals recorded in four of their last five outings.

Raphinha has been excellent this season for Barcelona and has scored eight goals in seven Champions League appearances, including a brace against Benfica.

That being said, we are leaning towards a Barcelona victory here. Hansi Flick’s side are known for their attacking potency, to which Raphinha we feel will be key to their chances.

Barcelona 3-1 Atalanta (Raphinha to score - Priced at 11/8)

The final round of the Champions League group phase takes place on Wednesday, as teams look to qualify for the automatic places in the top eight of the league phase. Atalanta travel to Barcelona, with both sides inside the top eight.

Date: 29/01/2025
Kick-Off: 8 pm
Location: Lluís Companys Olympic Stadium, Barcelona.

Five-time winners Barcelona can breathe a sigh of relief, as the home side have already secured qualification to the round of 16, as they sit second in the Champions League group phase and five points clear of Aston Villa as the first team outside the top eight places. Barcelona’s victory against Benfica (4-5) mathematically secured their place in the next round. Still, it wasn’t without controversy, as Benfica had a contentious penalty appeal turned down by VAR moments after Raphinha secured a dramatic winner for the hosts.

Atalanta are not mathematically secure in their position in the UEFA Champions League heading into the final game. The visitors have been excellent in their debut campaign in this competition, as they sit in seventh in the group stage rankings after seven games played - only losing once. Atalanta have obtained 14 points in this competition and are one point clear of Aston Villa, who are ninth. A point may not be enough for the visitors, with only a point separating six points heading into matchday eight.

The match will be available live on TNT Sports 10.

Barcelona Team News:

Inigo Martinez, Marc-Andre ter Stegen, Marc Bernal and Dani Olmo are all unavailable for Hansi Flick.

Atalanta Team News:

Gianluca Scamacca and Odilon Kossounou remain long-term absentees for Gian Piero Gasperini.

Barcelona and Atalanta have never met in this competition previously, so based on recent history, it will be difficult to gauge a winner from this tie. Barcelona most famously have encountered Italian opposition twice in European finals - losing to Milan (4-0) in 1994 but then overcoming Juventus (3-1) in 2015, to complete a historic treble under Luis Enrique. Atalanta have already faced Spanish opposition in this competition, where they were defeated by current Champions League holders Real Madrid (2-3).

Barcelona:

Barcelona are coming into this game in excellent form, with Hansi Flick’s side unbeaten in their last seven matches - winning six and drawing once. The home side have picked up impressive victories against the likes of Athletic Bilbao (0-2), Valencia (7-1), Real Madrid (2-5) and in their recent Champions League fixture against Benfica (4-5). The game against Benfica was decided by a 96th-minute winner from former Leeds United forward Raphinha, marking the first time in the game that Barcelona had taken the lead. Los Cules are also in excellent form when it comes to this competition, having won six of their last seven Champions League matches.

With the development to the Camp Nou, Barcelona have had to call the Lluis Companys Olympic Stadium their artificial home this season. Barcelona overall have found life in their temporary home gratifying. The home side have only lost three games at home all season - all three taking place in the league - whilst also recording three successive home wins against Brest (3-0), Bayern Munich (4-1) and BSC Young Boys (5-0).

Atalanta:

Title challengers in Italy, Atalanta, come into this game with only two wins from their previous five matches in all competitions - albeit two consecutive wins against Sturm Graz (5-0) and Como (1-2) heading into this game. Gian Piero Gasperini has seen his side suffer a defeat to Napoli (2-3) and two draws against Juventus (1-1) and Udinese (0-0) in those run of five games. Interestingly, the Italian side has also failed to keep a clean sheet in three of their previous five matches in all competitions.

Atalanta has a brilliant record in this competition, only losing once to Real Madrid (2-3) from their seven matches played so far. Away from home, Gasperini’s side have found life relatively easy in this competition, recording three consecutive away wins against BSC Young Boys (1-6), VfB Stuttgart (0-2) and Shakhtar Donestk (0-3). In general, the visitors have won three of their last six away from home, suffering only a single defeat to Inter Milan (2-0) in the Suppercoppa Italiana.

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