Barcelona vs. Atletico Madrid live score: La Liga result, updates ...

The two sides at the top of the La Liga table meet in a marquee clash amidst the Spanish league title race as Barcelona host Atletico Madrid on Saturday.

Tied with today's visitors on points, Barcelona sit first on goal difference only, but Atletico Madrid hold a game in hand, as do third-place Real Madrid who reside one point back of both teams above.

Barcelona have fallen on hard times, with just one win across their last five league games resulting in their lead evaporating, while Atleti caught them on the heels of six straight league victories.

Thus, this match represents a monumental clash where Barcelona will hope to reverse both those runs of form while Atletico Madrid will see this as the culmination of their recent charge.

The Sporting News is following the Barcelona vs. Atletico Madrid match live, providing score updates, commentary.

Latest live updates | Team news and lineups | How to watch where you are

Barcelona vs. Atletico Madrid score Score (2H)Goal scorersBarcelona1Pedri (30')Atletico Madrid1De Paul (60')

Location: Lluis Companys Olympic Stadium (Barcelona, Spain)
Referee: Ricardo De Burgos

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Starting lineups:

Barcelona (4-3-3, right to left): 13. Inaki Pena (GK) — 23. Jules Kounde, 2. Pau Cubarsi, 5. Inigo Martinez, 3. Alex Balde — 6. Gavi (Olmo, 64'), 17. Marc Casado, 8. Pedri — 16. Fermin Lopez (F. Torres, 64'), 9. Robert Lewandowski, 11. Raphinha.

Atletico Madrid (4-4-2, right to left): 13. Jan Oblak (GK) — 14. Marcos Llorente (Le Normand, 74'), 2. Jose Gimenez (Witsel, 52'), 15. Clement Lenglet, 21. Javi Galan — 22. Giuliano Simeone (Molina, 62'), 5. Rodrigo De Paul, 8. Pablo Barrios, 4. Conor Gallagher (Koke, 62') — 7. Antoine Griezmann (Sorloth, 74'), 19. Julian Alvarez.

MORE: All the latest soccer news | Barcelona news

Barcelona vs. Atletico Madrid live updates, highlights from La Liga

74th min: Antoine Griezmann, who's been utterly invisible against Barcelona yet again, is replaced by Alexander Sorloth for the final 15 minutes. Barcelona remains the only La Liga opponent against whom Griezmann has not scored against.

Robin Le Normand also enters to replace Marcos Llorente.

66th min: Chance, Barcelona! Raphinha once again unlocks the Atletico Madrid back line with a delicious flick to Robert Lewandowski on the end line, but the striker can't get it, and nobody is there at the far post to tap the ball in as it flashes across the open goal!

62nd min: Koke will enter into the Atletico Madrid midfield in place of Conor Gallagher. The England international was involved in that last attacking move but it's his final contribution to the game. Also entering is Nahuel Molina to replace the invisible Guiliano Simeone.

Barcelona respond shortly after by bringing on Dani Olmo and Ferran Torres to replace Fermin Lopez and Gavi.

60th min: GOAL! ATLETICO MADRID! THE VISITORS ARE LEVEL OUT OF NOTHING! It's Rodrigo de Paul with a cut finish from an attack that seemingly had fizzled out!

A breakaway down the left-hand side for Julian Alvarez ends in a cutback for a trailing Antoine Griezmann, but the feed was well behind the Frenchman and it seemed that was the end of that move. Instead, the ball clips off the outstretched leg of Marc Casado, and it falls right to De Paul charging onto it from deep, and he makes no mistake from a good 25 yards out, burying it inside the far post!

VIDEO: Watch De Paul goal in USA | Watch in UK

3 - Rodrigo de Paul ???????? has scored three goals in his last four games in @LaLiga, the same as in his previous 53 games in the competition. 50% of the goals he's scored for #AtléticoDeMadrid ????⚪️ have been from outside the box (7/14). Punch. pic.twitter.com/rkrHdtiOXe

— OptaJose (@OptaJose) December 21, 2024

57th min: Chance, Barcelona! RAPHINHA PUTS HIS CHIPPED EFFORT OFF THE CROSSBAR! Pedri releases the Brazilian down the right, and Raphinha tries a sensational clip over Jan Oblak but gets it off the top of the woodwork.

On the rebound, Robert Lewandowski tries to attack it but slips and only clatters Axel Witsel who's down and needs treatment.

56th min: Julian Alvarez does well to get on a through ball at pace against Pau Cubarsi, beating the young defender to the ball, but Cubarsi stays right on his hip and gets a vital dispossessing touch at the last possible moment before Alvarez get get a shot off.

Anything Atleti have right now has come purely on the counter, they have no buildup to speak of.

54th min: Robert Lewandowski is bundled over at the top of the penalty area by Axel Witsel, just inches outside the 18-yard box. Witsel, who only just came on, gets a yellow card for the poor challenge.

It gives the hosts a very dangerous free-kick shaded just left of the middle, and Lewandowski takes it but smashes the ball straight into the wall.

Moments later, Pedri goes for the top corner from a dangerous position on the right but sails it just high. Barcelona remain in firm control of this match, nothing notable has changed since halftime.

52nd min: Atletico Madrid are forced into a change as Jose Gimenez, their most experienced player and captain, is brought off. He looks to be in some pain, with frustration on his face, as he's replaced by Axel Witsel.

48th min: Chance, Barcelona! Fermin Lopez is clean through on goal thanks to a truly fantastic vertical through-ball from Pedri, but he's denied by Jan Oblak! A wonderful, top-class save to keep the deficit at one!

From an Atletico Madrid perspective, though, that's an ugly chance to give up as it looked very similar to the one which opened the scoring! It came off a horrible giveaway by Jose Gimenez who attempted a switch but passed it right to Raphinha in the central attacking area.

2nd half kickoff: They're back under way at the Olympic Stadium in Barcelona. No changes for either side for now, which is maybe a bit of a surprise from an Atletico Madrid perspective.

HALFTIME: Barcelona 1-0 Atletico Madrid

Complete and utter domination by Barcelona for the first 40 minutes of the game, with Pedri's goal the exclamation mark. Atletico Madrid looked as if they had something to say in the final five minutes before halftime, but they have been far and away second-best in this game.

With just the one goal for Barcelona at the end of all that attacking pressure, it will be interesting to see how Diego Simeone puts together any tactical or personnel changes at the break. Atletico Madrid are once again being humbled on the road at Barcelona, something that's become a regular occurrence over the past two decades.

— OptaJose (@OptaJose) December 21, 2024

40th min: Atletico Madrid look to be on the breakaway as Conor Gallagher does well to spring Julian Alvarez up front, but the famed Barcelona offside trap works to perfection and Alvarez is caught leaning just a fraction too soon.

37th min: Raphinha is absolutely cooking today, as he nutmegs Conor Gallagher to get free on the right touchline. He's dispossessed shortly thereafter as he tries to get by another defender in similar fashion, but he's giving Atletico Madrid players nightmares so far.

30th min: GOAL! BARCELONA! AN ABSOLUTELY DELICIOUS OPENING GOAL BY PEDRI!!!!! Truly sensational combo work with Gavi, and it's been coming!!

The Barcelona midfielder carves through the Atletico Madrid midfield and touches to Gavi, who produces an utterly brilliant turn to free himself from a defender and release the one-two with Pedri. Through on goal, all Pedri has to do is beat Jan Oblak which he does low into the far corner! What a gorgeous combination!

VIDEO: Watch Pedri goal in USA | Watch in UK

Come celebrate with Pedri! ????#BarçaAtleti | #LaLigaHighlights pic.twitter.com/LBfBGs7YRT

— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) December 21, 2024

25th min: Chance, Barcelona! The pressure continues for Barcelona and Gavi puts a thumping header wide! Raphinha, who's been brilliant thus far, was the one to deliver the cross on a platter to the near post, but Gavi can't hit the target, getting good power on the effort but blazing it past the woodwork.

21st min: Chance, Barcelona! The match is paused for VAR to take a closer look at an incident where a Barcelona cross evades two attackers and clips Giuliano Simeone on the elbow. The replay officials are not convinced, however, as there was no advantage gained from the incident as two forwards whiffed with attempts on goal as the ball sailed through. Credit to the officials for use of common sense!

On the eventual corner, Inigo Martinez attempts a powerful hit from about 10 yards out shaded right, but Jan Oblak has his near post covered and palms the ball away with two hands!

18th min: Atletico Madrid have managed to get a lid on Barcelona's attack, but they haven't had much of their own either. Finally, the visitors get forward and secure a speculative set-piece chance from out near the right corner flag but the fizzed delivery is hoofed away and cleared.

9th min: Barcelona continue to hold all the attacking possession, pressing Atletico Madrid back into their defensive third. Raphinha has been an absolute menace down the left, forcing Atleti into a few moments of emergency last-ditch defending. They are clearly in control of the early proceedings.

4th min: Chance, Barcelona! The hosts are on the front foot early as Atletico Madrid have blocked two clear chances right on the goal mouth! Raphinha's effort is the best of the two as he rifles one from the top-right corner of the six-yard box only to see it turned away!

Raphinha with a solid chance!#BarçaAtleti ⏐ #LaLigaHighlights pic.twitter.com/dxdLzn58EF

— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) December 21, 2024

Kickoff: The top two teams in the La Liga table are under way in Barcelona!

Barcelona vs. Atletico Madrid: Pre-match commentary, analysis, more

15 mins to kickoff: We've spoken already about Atletico Madrid's horrible recent record against Barcelona, but here's one number to really put it into perspective: Atleti have not won a league game at Barcelona since February of 2006.

That's over a year before Lamine Yamal was born! Can their recent form this season push them to a reversal of that dismal road fortune against the Catalan giants today?

????: Atlético Madrid’s coach Diego Simeone has never won a match away at Barcelona in 17 attempts in all competitions. He has recorded 7 draws and 10 defeats while visiting Barça. pic.twitter.com/8DewZKMhKr

— Barça Buzz (@Barca_Buzz) December 21, 2024

30 mins to kickoff: The all-time top goal scorer in this league fixture is none other than Lionel Messi, with his 26 La Liga goals for Barcelona against Atletico Madrid — and 32 if you count all competitions. For the visitors today, their all-time top goal scorer is Paco Campos with 12, not even half Messi's career total.

????️ From The Vault:
The ???? ???? Atleti#BarçaAtleti pic.twitter.com/9aSuPqVWH1

— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) December 21, 2024

45 mins to kickoff: Both teams have gone with a relatively consistent starting lineup given their available squad, but both made changes in midfield. Both Conor Gallagher for Atletico Madrid and Gavi for Barcelona bring a high work rate to the middle of the park.

The more interesting aspect of this is a focus on who was sent to the bench. Frenkie de Jong and Dani Olmo both miss out for Barcelona, with the latter not having grabbed a goal contribution since early November.

For Atletico Madrid, Samuel Lino was hooked at halftime of their win over Getafe last time out, and is replaced by a pure midfielder in Gallagher. Could that mean a move away from the 4-4-2 and instead put Antoine Griezmann at the 10 with Simeone and Alvarez up front? We'll see how it shakes out.

1 hour to kickoff: The Barcelona lineup was also released a bit early, and there are also no quirks from Hansi Flick's XI. Lamine Yamal remains out with an ankle injury, with Fermin Lopez replacing him on the wing instead of the red-hot Ferran Torres. Gavi enters in midfield for just his third start of the league season since coming back from an ACL tear.

The head man Flick will not be on the touchline today as he serves the second of his two-match ban.

1 hour 15 mins to kick: Atletico Madrid have released their starting lineup 15 minutes early. There are no surprises in Diego Simeone's XI, with only one change as England international Conor Gallagher enters the lineup in place of Samuel Lino.

1 hour 30 mins to kick: Atletico Madrid are wearing their slick gray tops today. A gorgeous away kit indeed!

???? pic.twitter.com/SzCTAWJhUN

— Atlético de Madrid (@Atleti) December 21, 2024

1 hour 45 mins to kick: Ferran Torres has been a man in form off the bench for Barcelona of late, often coming in for the aging Robert Lewandowski to finish off games. The former Man City forward says he's been a better player recently thanks to Lewandowski, saying before this match he's tried to be "like a sponge" to learn from the famed Polish striker.

2 hours to kickoff: The juxtaposition of Atletico Madrid's recent league form against their recent history against Barcelona could not be more in contrast.

Atleti have won 11 straight games across all competitions, including their last six in league play. Yet they have lost five in a row against Barcelona in league play and just one in their last 16, failing to score in any of their latest four.

Even crazier, the electric Antoine Griezmann has never scored for Atletico Madrid against Barcelona in a league game, with just one goal contribution in his 15 appearances, an assist in a 1-1 draw back in 2018.

Could that change today? Both Griezmann and Atletico Madrid's recent form indicate now's their best chance in quite a while to turn that awful streak around.

— Managing Barça (@ManagingBarca) December 19, 2024Barcelona vs. Atletico Madrid kick off time

This top-of-the-table La Liga match kicks off from the Lluis Companys Olympic Stadium on Saturday, December 21 at 9 p.m. local time in Barcelona, Spain. Here's how that time translates across some of the major territories around the globe:

 DateKickoff timeUSA/CanadaSat, Dec. 213 p.m. ETUSA/CanadaSat, Dec. 2112 p.m. PTUKSat, Dec. 218 p.m. GMTAustraliaSun, Dec. 227 a.m. AEDTIndiaSun, Dec. 222:30 a.m. ISTBarcelona vs. Atletico Madrid lineups, team news

Barcelona will be without teenage superstar Lamine Yamal with an ankle injury keeping him sidelined until the start of 2025. Hansi Flick's side has failed to win any of the four league games already missed by the 17-year-old in 2024/25 with Fermin Lopez potentially replacing him in the starting XI.

Also missing is none other than the aforementioned head man himself, as Flick serves the second of a two-match suspention.

Andreas Christensen, Marc Bernal and Marc-Andre ter Stegen all remain out injured as well with the Blaugrana looking thin, something fans have become accustomed to in recent years, although they do get Ansu Fati back on the bench today while Ronaldo Araujo is also amongst the substitutes while he works back from a long-term hamstring issue.

Barcelona starting lineup (4-3-3): Pena (GK) — Kounde, Cubarsi, Martinez, Balde — Gavi, Casado, Pedri — Lopez, Lewandowski, Raphinha.

Barcelona subs (12): Szczesny (GK), Astralaga (GK), Araujo, E. Garcia, S. Dominguez, G. Martin, De Jong, Olmo, Torre, Fati, F. Torres, Victor.

Diego Simeone has not confirmed any fresh injury concerns in his camp and he could stick with an unchanged team from last weekend's 1-0 over Getafe. Only Angel Correa was expected to be absent thanks to a muscle injury, but even he is available off the bench.

Despite scoring a winner off the bench last time out, Alexander Sorloth could remain amongst the substitutes, with Julian Alvarez and Antoine Griezmann in sparkling form up front.

Atletico Madrid starting lineup (4-4-2): Oblak (GK) — Llorente, Gimenez, Lenglet, Galan — Simeone, De Paul, Barrios, Gallagher — Alvarez, Griezmann.

Atletico Madrid subs (12): Musso (GK), Azpilicueta, Le Normand, Witsel, Riquelme, Reinildo, Lino, Molina, Lemar, Koke, Correa, Sorloth.

Barcelona vs. Atletico Madrid live stream, TV channel

Here's how to watch this La Liga match across selected areas of the world's major regions:

RegionTVStreamingUSAESPN DeportesESPN+, FuboCanada—TSN+UKLa Liga TV, Premier Sports 1, ITV4Premier Sports Player, ITVXAustraliabeIN SPORTS 2beIN Sports ConnectIndia—GXR World