One of the most eagerly anticipated fixtures on the La Liga calendar will take place at the Wanda Metropolitano this weekend as Atletico Madrid welcome the champions Barcelona on Sunday, report agencies.
Atletico are currently fourth in the table with 25 points to show from their 14 matches, while Barca top the league with 28, with the Catalan giants also boasting a game in hand.
It has been a strange season thus far for Atletico, with Diego Simeone's side very much the draw specialists in Spain's top flight. The capital outfit have shared the points in exactly half of their 14 La Liga outings this season, but no team in Spain's top flight has suffered fewer defeats (1) this term.
Goals have been a real problem for Atletico, finding the back of the net in just 16 of their 14 league matches. They have the joint-best defensive record with just nine conceded, though, and as mentioned, are currently fourth with 25 points to show from their exertions thus far.
In all competitions, Simeone's team have won just one of their last six matches, which came at home to Espanyol in La Liga on November 10. Since then, they have been held to a 1-1 draw by Granada in La Liga before suffering a 1-0 defeat to Juventus in the Champions League on Tuesday night.
Like Atletico, Barca were also in Champions League action during the week, but it was a much more positive outcome for Ernesto Valverde's side as they booked their spot in the last-16 stage of the competition.
Luis Suarez, Lionel Messi and Antoine Griezmann were all on the scoresheet in a 3-1 win over Borussia Dortmund, ensuring that the Spanish champions would be present in the knockout round of the tournament once again.
Barca have not been without their problems this season, but the Catalan giants will enter this match off the back of four straight wins in all competitions, including their last two against Celta Vigo and Leganes in the league.
Nine wins, one draw and three defeats - that is how Valverde's side have performed in the league this season.
They might top the table at this stage but just five points separates the top six teams in the league, and there is every chance that they would slide down the division with a poor result this weekend.
Atletico still have big problems at the back with Stefan Savic, Sime Vrsaljko and Jose Gimenez all out.
The latter has recently returned to training but is unlikely to be considered for this weekend's match, meaning that Mario Hermoso and Felipe should start as the two central defenders once again.
Key midfielders Saul Niguez and Thomas Partey are available after missing out against Granada last weekend through suspension, but Diego Costa is out until at least February following a neck operation.
Joao Felix played for 35 minutes against Juve after overcoming an ankle injury, though, and the Portugal international could now return to the XI with Angel Correa and Alvaro Morata also starting.
As for Barca, the club are yet to provide a firm update on the injury suffered by Ousmane Dembele against Dortmund, but the France international is unlikely to feature this weekend.
As a result, Griezmann should join Messi and Suarez in the final third of the field, while Gerard Pique will return to the back four having missed the Champions League clash through suspension.
Barca still have issues in the full-back positions, though, with Nelson Semedo and Jordi Alba still injured, meaning that Sergi Roberto and Junior Firpo should keep their spots once again.
Further forward, key midfielder Sergio Busquets will miss out through suspension, handing Valverde a selection dilemma in the middle of the park.
Arthur should return to join Frenkie de Jong, while Arturo Vidal will hope to edge out Ivan Rakitic to take the final position.
