Atletico look to leapfrog Barca

MADRID — Atletico Madrid have a chance to take advantage of a topsy-turvy Spanish La Liga soccer campaign when they host champions Barcelona today with the chance to take top spot this weekend despite their own patchy form.

Diego Simeone’s side are just a point behind leaders Barca despite having drawn five times and lost once, together as many matches as they have won. They are battling to overtake Barca alongside Sevilla and surprise package Alaves, who are both level on 23 points with Atleti.

While Sevilla could potentially be leaders tomorrow night despite languishing in 13th place in September. Even Real Madrid are in touch, just four points back despite having gone more than eight hours without a goal at one point and having been without a permanent coach for two weeks before Santiago Solari was upgraded from interim to fulltime boss. This season every time a challenger has clicked into gear they seem to click out again, in turn offering fresh impetus to their stumbling rivals around them. “We have managed to play the way we want against the big teams, but against other teams with less potential we have not,” defender Gerard Pique said.

“If we want to win titles we have to be strong against everyone, the difficult ones and everyone else.” Atletico may have put a miserable start behind them but last month, they suffered their heaviest defeat under Diego Simeone, a 4-0 loss to Borussia Dortmund.

Spanish La Liga Fixtures Today: Eibar v Real Madrid (2pm); Valencia v Rayo Vallecano (5:15pm); Huesca v Levante (7:30pm); Atlético Madrid v Barcelona (9:45pm).

Tomorrow: Athletic Club v Getafe (1pm); Sevilla v Real Valladolid (5:15pm); Espanyol v Girona (7:30pm); Villarreal v Real Betis (9:45pm). — AFP.