Atletico Madrid welcome Barcelona to the Vicente Calderon for the last time in what could end up proving to be a pivotal game in the La Liga title race.
Barcelona have had a full week of training for the first time in 2017 and go into the Atleti clash well rested.
Barca boss Luis Enrique still has Javier Mascherano and Aleix Vidal out in defence so he is likely to start with Marc-André ter Stegen in goal, Sergi Roberto at right-back and Jordi Alba on the left. Meanwhile Gerard Piqué and Samuel Umtiti are expected to get the nod as the centre-back pairing.
Enrique faces a tough decision in midfield regarding who should start alongside Sergio Busquets and Andres Iniesta. Ivan Rakitic, Andre Gomes and Arda Turan are all fighting for a place.
Turan has the added advantage of knowing Atleti better than any other of his teammates having spent four seasons at the club.
Alternatively he may switch from a 4-3-3 to a 4-2-3-1 which would see no need for an additional central midfielder. Messi would start as a No. 10 with Luis Suarez upfront while Arda Turan and Neymar would start out wide.
Barcelona have not lost against Atleti since Turan joined back in 2015, winning two and drawing two.
The Madrid based side have however, scored in their last 7 games against Barca and are on a three game winning streak in the La Liga.
Atletico Madrid vs Barcelona probable starting line-ups
Possible Atletico Madrid Starting XI (4-4-2) : Oblak; Vrsaljko, Savic, Godin, Luis; Saul, Koke, Gabi, Carrasco; Griezmann, Gameiro.
Possible Barcelona Starting XI : ter Stegen; Roberto, Pique, Umtiti, Alba; Rakitic, Busquets, Iniesta; Messi, Suarez, Neymar.
