Barcelona's hunger to win the UEFA Champions League may
be greater than ever after being dealt a two-window transfer ban last week.
The Camp Nou outfit were handed the punishment by FIFA a
day after they were held to a 1-1 draw by Atletico Madrid in the first leg of
their quarter-final tie for irregularities found in their transfer dealings at
youth level.
A transfer embargo of that magnitude would likely weaken
Barca over the coming seasons, so Gerardo Martino's men will be keen to make
the most of their opportunity this time around.
Atleti - aiming for their first semi-final appearance
since 1974 - hold the away-goal advantage heading into the second leg, but may
be forced to do without star striker Diego Costa, who limped off with an
injured hamstring after 30 minutes last Tuesday.
Costa, who has scored seven goals in six Champions League
starts this season, subsequently sat out his side's 1-0 win against Villarreal
in the league on Saturday and remains a doubt as Atleti prepare to host this
week's return leg.
The three previous domestic meetings between the sides
pointed to this tie being a hotly contested affair, and the first leg did not
disappoint.
Diego, who came on for the injured Costa, opened the
scoring for Atleti in the 56th minute, before Neymar levelled matters 15
minutes later.
The result was the fourth draw between the sides in all
competitions this season.
However, the hosts' home form should give them cause for
optimism, having won 16 of their last 17 home games in UEFA competition.
That said, Barca have not lost for four years at Atleti,
and will need to maintain that run if they are to reach a seventh successive
semi-final.
The sides currently occupy the top two spots in the
Spanish top flight - Atleti are one point clear of second-placed Barca - and
the last two-legged tie between them, the Spanish Super Cup, was won on away
goals by the Catalan giants.
While conceding it would have been nice to head into the
second leg with a kinder scoreline, Barcelona's Xavi claims the need to win
could benefit his side.
"Atletico cut down the space," he said.
"It's not easy to create chances, and we have to be fluent in the game and
move the ball quickly.
"It's a really tough match. We'd have liked to have
gone there with a better result, but it all depends on us.
"We have to win and that benefits us because we're a
team built to attack, but we are facing an opponent who is just the
opposite."
In addition to Costa, Atleti have question marks over the
fitness of Arda Turan (groin), while Barca will be without Victor Valdes
(knee), captain Carles Puyol (knee) and Gerard Pique (hip).
Culled from Soccerway
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