Big Match Feature: Barca v Atletico Madrid

It will be an all-Spanish clash in one of the quarterfinal matches of the Uefa Champions League this Tuesday when FC Barcelona play hosts to Atletico Madrid. The match is live on SSHD this Tuesday from 8:45pm CAT (SA, GMT+2). Atletico Madrid are currently leaders of the Spanish top flight and are one point ahead of second-placed Barcelona. But the two teams will put to one side their La Liga title chase and go head-to-head in a Champions League clash which promises to be thrilling. No doubt Barca are favourites going into this clash considering their vast experience in Europe's biggest club competition. Barcelona will definitely be eyeing another semifinal berth in the Champions League having appeared in the semifinals in the last six seasons. The same cannot be said of Atleti. This is the first time they will be making the quarterfinals in 17 years. The last time they reached the last eight in 1997, Ajax defeated them 4-3. Coincidentally, their current manager, Diego Simeone was in the squad that lost to the Dutch club. HEAD-TO-HEAD There have been no previous Champions League meetings between the two clubs. But this season alone, they have come up against each other on three occasions in Spanish competitions. The only La Liga meeting between both sides this term ended goalless in January while the Blaugrana edged Atletico on away goals in the Supercopa de Espana over two legs earlier in the season. But Simeone's men will fancy their chances and hope they can end their eight-year spell of having not defeated Barca at the Camp Nou since a 3-1 win in a league game in 2006 which witnessed Fernando Torres, now with Chelsea, scoring twice. Supercopa first leg: Atletico 1-1 Barca Supercopa second leg: Barca 0-0 Atletico La Liga: Atletico 0-0 Barca MATCH BACKGROUND However, Atleti know they will have one man to contend with - Lionel Messi. The Argentine has been in red-hot form scoring nine goals in his last five matches in all competitions. Messi is also just four goals away from equalling Raul's Champions League record of 71 goals and he is expected to play a key role in this clash. On the other hand, Atleti's Brazil-born striker, Diego Costa, has scored 33 goals in all competitions for the Madrid club this season. TEAM NEWS Good as Costa's form in front of goal may sound, he is now a doubt for Tuesday's clash at the Camp Nou. The striker is reported to have limped off the pitch during a training session this week and now faces a late fitness test. Simeone's side seem to have more key men ruled out of the first leg with Raul Garcia suspended and Javier Manquillo down with a neck injury. Barcelona will continue to be without their first-choice goalkeeper, Victor Valdes. The shot-stopper has been ruled out for the rest of this season owing to a knee ligament injury. So Jose Pinto is expected to start. The duo of Pedro and Alex Song could make the Barca squad after going down to illness and slight injury respectively. WHAT THE COACHES ARE SAYING Simeone, who has been described as a styled coach mixing flair and grit believes Cristiano Ronaldo, Messi and Costa "all have their own style and are all equally important" to their teams. The 43-year-old Atletico coach reminded that without a doubt the clash will produce a "beautiful tie" but pointed out that his men will compete. "Barcelona are in top shape. They are used to these kind of matches. The match will be very difficult. The two teams meet in a great moment. I expect the best Barcelona, they will settle it here, in their home stadium and not wait for the return leg. "If we say we are favourites, they will say we are arrogant. If not, they will say that we are underdogs," said Simeone. Barcelona coach Gerardo Martino is now all too familiar with Atleti's strength and is keen to see his team win the first leg at the Camp Nou to ease the pressure during the return leg. He also acknowledged that Barca will have to be in their best defensive shape to thwart Atletico's sharp counter-attacking style. Martino said: "The first thing we have to do is win. What we have to be careful about is Atletico's counter-attacks. You have to know that there is a second leg. We have to play with a lot of order and we'll create more chances." But Barca faithful will be worried their continental hoodoo against Spanish opposition do not haunt them as they have failed to win in five of such nine meetings in the past. However, Simeone and his men will have to find a way to win at the Camp Nou where Barca have lost just once in their last 26 European matches at home. At the same time, the Madrid club will hope they can reach a first Champions League semis for the first time in 40 years. The second leg meeting at the Vicente Calderon Stadium on April 9 will decide all of that.