An Atlético Triple

Here’s a quick pitch: We are about to embark on an intense series of three matches over ten days between two of football’s elite clubs. The previous eight encounters have seen an astonishing total of 32 goals (averaging four per game!), with each of the last five knockout matches decided by the narrowest of margins—just one goal. One team is already set for a cup final, while one will definitely secure a spot in this season’s UEFA Champions League semifinals.

And it gets even wilder: the outcome of this fierce trilogy might even be affected by the NFL‘s Miami Dolphins. Considering the previous eight clashes included three red cards, a missed penalty, and a crazy own goal by a goalkeeper, anticipation is high. Circle those dates, stock up on beverages and snacks, and get ready to tune in! Right?

(If your response is “no” or “maybe,” please take a moment to reflect, get some fresh air, and perhaps increase your vitamin C intake.)

This Sunday marks the beginning of this thrilling trilogy, which could significantly impact Barcelona’s season. Atlético Madrid, the host team, find themselves with slightly less pressure as this initial match is one they can afford to lose—something many fans might even prefer.

Before detailing the next two encounters (April 8 and 14, just so you know), let me explain further.

Atlético welcomes Spanish champions Barcelona with the title seeming as distant as Halley’s Comet for Los Colchoneros. However, a victory against Hansi Flick’s injury-plagued league leaders would gift Atlético’s arch-rivals, Real Madrid, a chance to close the gap to just one point behind Barcelona. With Madrid on the rise and sensing Barcelona’s vulnerabilities, this is a volatile situation for fans of both clubs. Atlético may not care for Barcelona, but they despise being overshadowed by Madrid even more—watching them collect trophies and bragging rights is a bitter pill to swallow.

Despite this, Atlético’s intense, fiery coach, Diego Simeone, must rise above the mindset of the hardcore fans who would likely trade a league defeat for success in the upcoming two Champions League matches—knockout ties that will decide who goes on to play Arsenal in all likelihood.

Among the 32 goals from the last eight encounters are this season’s clashes: Barcelona triumphed 3-1 and 3-0 at home, while Atlético celebrated a 4-0 victory in Madrid. Remarkably, due to the Copa del Rey semifinals and the Champions League, these two historic rivals will face off six times this season.

Spanish football hasn’t seen this level of back-to-back intensity between the same two teams with so much on the line for 15 years.

This period recalls the notorious Clásico Wars of 2011, where José Mourinho’s Madrid and Pep Guardiola’s Barcelona clashed in a series of matches that included a 1-1 draw in La Liga, a 1-0 Madrid win in the Copa del Rey final, and a 3-1 aggregate victory for Barça in the Champions League semifinal—all squeezed into just 18 days.

For viewers, it was a spectacular, thrilling experience. While this upcoming series is undeniably significant, it may not carry the same weight as a Clásico or a Copa final, nor is it quite at the level of a Champions League semifinal.

Reflecting on that high-pressure environment, Iker Casillas, former Madrid goalkeeper, admitted, “We weren’t prepared for those four matches in such a brief period. The stakes were so high. Those games left an indelible mark on Spanish football, even taking on a political dimension. If Barcelona had won, it would have felt like Catalonia was overtaking Madrid.”

This time, the stakes are substantial.

A win for Barcelona on Sunday would deliver a significant blow to Real Madrid—who would likely hold out hope that Barcelona might stumble against Atlético. If the reigning champions perform at their best, they could manage an advantageous stride over both of their rivals.

The Champions League first leg happens at Camp Nou next Wednesday, with the decisive second leg at the Metropolitano the following Tuesday—a whole different kettle of fish.

Last season showed that being eliminated in the quarterfinals instead of the semifinals could cost as much as €32 million (Barcelona earned €116 million compared to Aston Villa’s €83 million). That’s not loose change; it represents either a solid signing or a star player’s contract for the year. Moreover, whichever team prevails might find themselves facing the daunting prospect of a final against Real Madrid in Budapest.

Whether Madrid can overcome Bayern Munich and then likely Paris Saint-Germain in the semifinals is an entirely different issue, but it’s filled with what the Spanish term “morbo.” This term denotes a gripping, potentially unhealthy fascination. For Barcelona, there has never been a Clásico in a Champions League or European Cup final before. And for neutrals, it’s an enticing and explosive scenario—though still somewhat distant.

As for a potential Atlético vs. Madrid Champions League final… what else is there to say? Simeone has stated he still can’t hear the Champions League anthem without being haunted by memories of the losses to Madrid in 2014 and 2016 finals; a last-gasp header from Sergio Ramos saved the first in Lisbon, while an offside Ramos goal and missed penalties by Antoine Griezmann and Juanfran caused the second to slip away from Atlético. The pain remains vivid.

If you’re excited and planning to catch every thrilling moment of this trilogy, it’s worth noting that Atlético might hold a slight edge going into the matches.

While Barcelona boasts superior talent overall, they will be without Raphinha, which poses a significant challenge. The Spanish champions also have struggled defensively, conceding in their last ten Champions League appearances, and Pedri’s form has dipped—he’s clearly burned out.

Two matches will be played at Atlético’s Metropolitano Stadium, and here’s where the Dolphins add a curious twist to this football saga. Miami managed to win their regular-season matchup against the Washington Commanders at the Santiago Bernabéu last November, but trained on Atlético’s pitch for three days prior. The heavy foot traffic necessitated a complete resodding of the grass.

This winter in Spain was particularly harsh and wet, leading to a pitch that didn’t settle well. Matches like the 4-0 victory over Barcelona and eliminating Tottenham were significantly aided by opponents slipping and losing footing. You might recall the issues faced by Antonin Kinsky and Mickey Van de Ven, resulting in easy Atlético goals.

Even Koke, Atlético’s longtime captain, has voiced concerns: “It’s not acceptable. We slip, the surface comes up… Atlético needs the pitch to be well-maintained. We’re expected to perform at a high level, and we need quality grass to do so.”

Will these factors come into play? Will Atlético once again derail Barcelona’s season (they’ve eliminated them from the Champions League in the last two meetings), or will a player like Lamine Yamal step up and turn the tide, reminiscent of how Lionel Messi did back in those 2011 Clásico Wars?

Stay alert—don’t miss a single minute of the action!