LaLiga 2019-20, Atletico Madrid vs Barcelona: Recapping the last 3 meetings between the two clubs

Barcelona vs Atletico Madrid is one of the most widely followed LaLiga fixtures, and also one of the most frequent. Real Madrid and Athletic Bilbao are the only two teams against whom Barcelona have played more Liga games than they have against the club from the red-and-white side of Madrid.

In 164 previous meetings between the two clubs, Barcelona have triumphed on 74 occasions and drawn 40 games, while losing on 50 occasions. The two-time defending Liga champions are unbeaten in 18 Liga games against Atletico since a 2-1 away defeat in 2009-10.

After 13 games, Barcelona lead the 2019-20 Liga table over Real Madrid on goal difference. All three of the Catalan club's Liga defeats this season have come on the road.

All-time Liga top-scorer Lionel Messi's 24 goals against Atletico is the second-most he has netted against a team in the Spanish top-flight, after the 29 goals he has scored against Sevilla.

As Atletico get ready to host Barcelona this weekend, let us have a look at the last three Liga meetings between the two clubs:

#3 2017-18: Barcelona 1-0 Atletico Madrid

Lionel Messi rejoices after scoring the lone goal of the game against Atletico

Messi's 600th career goal was the difference between the two sides in the 2017-18 Liga meeting at the Camp Nou.

A sublime free-kick from the Argentine magician midway through the first-half gave Barcelona the lead they wouldn't relinquish for the remainder of the game. The result meant that the Catalan club inched closer towards another Liga title.

True to the game styles of both teams, Atletico looked to soak up the Barca pressure and hit on the break as the home team enjoyed plenty of possession. But Diego Simeone's gameplan was undone when Messi scored his 600th career goal (539 for Barcelona, 61 for Argentina) and Barcelona threatened to double the lead as the game approached halftime.

Atletico emerged re-energized after the break but struggled to carve out clear scoring opportunities. When Antoinne Greizmann blazed one over the woodwork, it looked like it was not going to be Atletico's night.

Kevin Gameiro thought he had grabbed a share of the spoils for the visitors but his effort was ruled out for offside as the Rojiblancos returned empty handed to the Spanish capital.

#2 2018-19: Atletico Madrid 1-1 Barcelona

Diego Costa opened the scoring against Barcelona

In a cagey tactical affair dominated by defence, both teams struggled to create clear scoring opportunities.

Diego Costa's 77th minute header off Antoine Greizmann's corner was the first effort on target by either side. That broke an 18-game Liga scoring drought for the Atletico talisman, as he scored his first goal against Barcelona.

Just as the Rojiblancos were dreaming of a first Liga win in 13 years at the Camp Nou and usurping Barcelona at the top of the table, the home side struck back.

Ernesto Valverde brought on Ousmane Dembélé as Barcelona sought a way back into the game. The World Cup winner obliged at the death by taking a Messi pass, cutting inside, and drilling a low finish past Jan Oblak to force a share of the spoils.

The result meant Barca stayed a point clear of Atletico at the top of the Liga table.

#1 2018-19: Barcelona 2-0 Atletico Madrid

Messi rejoices after scoring against Atletico Madrid

League leaders Barcelona struggled away against a well-drilled Atletico defence as the game remained goalless with five minutes of normal time remaining.

Atletico were the better side in the opening half-hour as Diego Costa proved a menace for the home team. But the visitors had to ditch their attacking game-plan and resort to their usual counter-attacking style of play when Costa was sent off.

Just as it looked like Atletico had done enough to settle for a goalless stalemate, Luis Suarez proved them wrong. The Uruguayan striker let loose a right-footed effort from outside the box which beat the Atletico keeper Jan Oblak.

Exploiting the suddenly opened-up Atleti backline, Lionel Messi rubber-stamped the win a minute later. The Argentinian's close-range effort found the back of the net despite a well-timed challenge from Jose Maria Gimenez.

It was Messi's 33rd Liga goal of the campaign as Barcelona went 11 points clear at the top.