Atletico Madrid vs Barcelona: Combined XI
Defending La Liga champions Barcelona will face the first real test of their title defence when they travel to the Vicente Calderon as league action resumes this weekend. It is the same venue where they sealed the league title last season.After two nervy 1-0 victories in the opening two games, the Catalans sit fourth in the standings – the same as their opponents. Despite losing some of their key players over the summer, Atletico appear a strong unit and have assembled a squad which is formidable enough to mount another title challenge this time around.As two of the top three title contenders go mano-a-mano in this season’s first crunch clash, we look at the combined line-up of stars from Atletico Madrid and Barcelona for this season.
#1 Goalkeeper
Having come up trumps to play a starring role as Barcelona clinched the Copa and the Champions League, Marc-Andre ter Stegen remains one of the best goalkeepers in the Spanish top flight at the moment. The German proved to be one of the signings of the season last term and will be the key in Barca’s quest to defend their titles.
With Claudio Bravo sustaining a calf injury during international duty, the former Borussia Monchengladbach man is set to deputise for him and start under the bar for the first time in the league this campaign. Having been embarrassed by Athletic Bilbao in the Spanish Supercup last month, Ter Stegen’s credentials will be put to test again this week as he will be tasked with warding off one of the most rejuvenated attacks of the league.