Barcelona hosted Atlético Madrid at the Camp Nou for the fourth time in just two months in the UEFA Champions League quarter-final first leg.

However, the stakes are even higher now, as both teams are competing for a UEFA Champions League semi-final ticket.

The match ended with a 0-2 Atlético Madrid win, which complicates things for Barcelona and obliges them to try and mount a comeback in the Riyadh Air Metropolitano.

Barcelona created several opportunities but failed to convert them into goals, while committing defensive errors that made things easier for Atlético Madrid.

This cost them a loss at their own stadium and reduced their chances of qualification, at the expense of an Atlético Madrid side showing they have been progressing since the start of the season.

This season, Atlético have shown they are still good in defence and have also developed a powerful attacking system, making the team more balanced and even more difficult to beat.

In this tactical analysis, we identify why Barcelona failed to score and how Atlético Madrid resisted their attacks and exploited Barcelona’s defensive weaknesses.

Barcelona Vs Atlético Madrid Lineups & Formations

Hansi Flick opted for the 4-2-3-1 formation in this match, with Joan García in goal, a back four of Pau Cubarsí and Gerard Martin as centre-backs, and both Jules Koundé and João Cancelo as full-backs.

The midfield was made up of Pedri and Eric García as central midfielders, with Dani Olmo being the advanced playmaker.

In attack, Barcelona deployed Marcus Rashford and Lamine Yamal as wingers and Robert Lewandowski as the team’s main striker.

Diego Simeone started with a 4-4-2 formation, with Juan Musso starting between the sticks.

Los Rojiblancos’s back four were Robin Le Normand and Dávid Hancko as centre-backs, with Nahuel Molina and Matteo Ruggeri as right and left full-backs.

Both Koke and Marcos Llorente played as central midfielders, while Giuliano Simeone was Atlético Madrid’s right winger, and Ademola Lookman on the left wing.

In the attack, the team relied on Julián Álvarez and Antoine Griezmann as the attacking duo.