Barca takes on Atletico Madrid in crucial tie

Saturday's game between FC Barcelona and Atletico Madrid in the Camp Nou Stadium will go a long way towards deciding who will win this season's Liga Santander title as the sides sitting first and second in the league table.

Barca have an eight point lead over Atletico after the midweek round of matches and a win for Ernesto Valverde's men would take them 11 points clear of Atletico with just seven games left to play, leaving them as virtual champions elect.

Even a draw would be a good result for Barca ahead of a relatively benign run of matches until the end of the season.

Barca were chaotic in their 4-4 draw away to Villarreal in midweek, but Valverde rested key players, Leo Messi, Ivan Rakitic and Gerard Pique for that game to ensure they were fresh for Saturday.

With Ousmane Dembele still out of action and Philippe Coutinho still struggling for form, there is a chance Barca will change formation and play with just Messi and Luis Suarez up front and draft in Arturo Vidal to provide extra support to Rakitic, Arthur and Sergio Busquets.

Atletico coach Diego Simeone fielded his strongest available side for their 2-0 win at home to Girona and saw how striker Alvaro Morata suffered an ankle injury, which makes him a slight doubt for Saturday along with Diego Costa, who missed out in midweek due to physical problems.

Simeone said on Friday that the duo should be OK to play and admitted that only a win would serve his side's cause. The Argentinean has never beaten Barca in the league, but, probably believing there is a first time for everything, said the fact actually made him more optimistic that the win could arrive this time.

He is unlikely to make many changes to Wednesday's side though Costa will probably start if fit.

Atletico will look for Koke, Saul, Thomas and Rodri, with the help of the hard-working Antoine Griezmann, to outnumber and suffocate Barca in midfield. That could set up a break for Griezmann or Costa or win a set piece to allow Atletico to exploit their strength in the air, but if the game progresses with the scores level, Simone knows he will have to go on the attack, because as he himself admits a draw is no use.