Atlético Madrid VS Barcelona Champions League QF 2026: Where to watch, expected lineup and score prediction

Atlético Madrid will host Barcelona in the UEFA Champions League quarter-final second leg on Tuesday, April 14, 2026at the Metropolitano Stadium in Madrid. Kick-off is scheduled for 21:00 CEST (12:30 AM IST on Wednesday).

Atlético hold a commanding 2-0 aggregate lead after a resilient first-leg victory at Camp Nou, where goals from Julian Alvarez and Alexander Sørloth, combined with Pau Cubarsí’s red card, secured a famous win for Diego Simeone’s side.

Where to Watch

India: SonyLIV (live stream & TV)

International: DAZN, TNT Sports, Paramount+ (check local listings)

Match preview

The Rojiblancos enter the clash refreshed after resting key players in their weekend La Liga defeat to Sevilla. They are expected to deploy a compact, defensive setup at home, relying on their two-goal cushion to frustrate Barcelona’s attacking flair and exploit spaces on the counter. An early goal for the visitors could ignite a comeback, making defensive solidity crucial for Atlético.

Barcelona, meanwhile, come into the game in strong domestic form following a morale-boosting 4-1 win over Espanyolwhich extended their lead at the top of La Liga. Hansi Flick’s team is known for its high-pressing, offensive approach, with attacks often channeled through the right flank via the sensational Lamine Yamal. To overturn the deficit, Barcelona must be clinical in front of goal while remaining compact at the back a tall order against Simeone’s well-organized unit.

Head-to-Head History

Overall meetings: 256

Barcelona wins: 118

Atlético wins: 82

Draws: 56

Barcelona have dominated recent visits to the Metropolitano, winning 5 of the last 6 encounters, including a 2-1 league victory on April 4. However, Atlético have a strong European record against the Blaugrana and hold the crucial two-goal cushion from the first leg.

Team News & Predicted Line-ups

Atlético Madrid

Injury boost: Jan Oblak and Johnny Cardoso back in training.

Doubts: David Hancko, José Giménez, Pablo Barrios.

Suspended: Mark Pubill.

Predicted XI (4-4-2): Musso; Molina, Hancko, Lenglet, Ruggeri; Koke, Baena, Simeone, Lookman; Griezmann, Alvarez.

Barcelona

Out: Raphinha, Andreas Christensen.

Doubtful: Marc Bernal, Gerard Martin.

Suspended: Pau Cubarsí.

Predicted XI (4-3-3): Joan García; Cancelo, Araujo, Eric García, Gerard Martin; De Jong, Pedri, Fermin; Rashford, Yamal, Lewandowski.

Score Prediction

Expect a tense, tactical battle. Atlético’s home resilience and lead suggest they can hold firm, but Barcelona’s quality may yield a goal or two. We predict a 2-2 draw on the night, with Atlético progressing 4-2 on aggregate to reach the semi-finals for the first time since 2016/17.