Barcelona Eye Atletico Rematch After 17-game Unbeaten Run

Barcelona are set to face Atletico Madrid in a crucial La Liga clash on Sunday, following an impressive 17-game unbeaten run that has seen them reclaim the top spot in the league.

Barcelonas poor performances in November and December, including a defeat to Atletico that dropped them from first place, led to a tough period. However, since that loss at home to Diego Simeones side, the Catalans have turned things around dramatically, winning 14 out of their last 17 games across all competitions, drawing three.

With Atletico in third, Barcelona now sit at the top of La Liga, level on points with Real Madrid but ahead on goal difference. The team's remarkable resurgence has been bolstered by a strong start to 2025 and a recent 4-1 aggregate win over Benfica, securing their spot in the Champions League quarter-finals.

Nobody cares about the past when you lose a match. It's a good thing to always focus on the next one, and give everything for the team, said Barcelona manager Hansi Flick after their win over Benfica. I love this mentality, and at the moment, it's a great atmosphere within the squad.

Several factors have contributed to Barcelona's recovery. The addition of Wojciech Szczesny as first-choice goalkeeper and Frenkie de Jongs resurgence in midfield have provided the team with more stability at the back and creativity in attack. Szczesny has kept eight clean sheets in 15 appearances, while De Jong appears to have regained his confidence after a difficult period.