FC Barcelona have produced some extraordinary comebacks over the years, and under Hansi Flick the team has turned recoveries after going behind into an art form.

But the challenge they face on Tuesday at 9pm CET is perhaps the biggest of them all. Not just because of the occasion, a Champions League quarter final, but also because this time they are going to have to produce the magic away from home.

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Last Wednesday produced the cruellest of outcomes. Although Barça dominated Atlético Madrid from start to finish at Spotify Camp Nou, they were unable to turn that superiority into goals. And the challenge was made harder still when Pau Cubarsí was red-carded just before half-time.

Having demonstrated exceptional defensive prowess but very little else, Diego Simeone's side managed to nick not one but two goals, first from a Julián Alvarez free kick and then from Alexander Sorloth on the break. As a result, the red-and-whites are very much the side in control as the action resumes at the Metropolitano.

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Huge task

The enormity is the task is reflected in the fact that although Barça have qualified regardless on five of the twelve previous occasions when they have lost a Champions League first leg, they have never managed to turn things around when they have played the second leg away from home.

That said, it's very rare for Barça to lose first legs of knockout ties at home at all. It's only happened three times in the history of the competition (against Real Madrid in 2001, Liverpool in 2007 and PSG in 2020).

On each of those occasions Barça failed to recover., and they were also eliminated on the six occasions they lost first legs at home in other UEFA-endorsed competitions. But there is a first time for everything. And it is Hansi Flick and his players' challenge to make sure that first time is Tuesday night.

Atlético again

Barça certainly know how to beat Atlético Madrid on their own patch. They did that just the other week in La Liga. And they also know how to fight back against the mattress-makers. After falling to a crushing 4-0 defeat in the recent semi-final first leg of the Copa del Rey, the Catalans very nearly pulled off a spectacular comeback in their own stadium. They were leading 3-0 with plenty of time to spare for a fourth goal that sadly never came.

These are two teams that know each other inside-out. Having already met twice in the league, twice in the cup and once in Europe, this will be the sixth confrontation between the two this season.

The prize this time is a place in the Champions League semi-finals, where either Arsenal or Sporting Clube de Portugal await. The Premiership leaders won the first leg of that encounter in Portugal, and are hence the big favourites to meet the winners of this all-Liga tie in the final four.

Team news

Frenkie de Jong returned to action in the 4-1 derby victory over Espanyol at the weekend, which has left Barça nine points clear at the top of the table with just seven games left to play. That means the only players definitively excluded from the travelling squad through injury are Raphinha and Andreas Christensen.

However, Cubarsí is also unavailable after getting sent off in the first leg. Marc Bernal has yet to be confirmed as fully fit but has been included on the list.

https://www.fcbarcelona.com/en/football/first-team/news/4486338/the-squad-for-the-trip-to-madrid

While Flick fielded a near full-strength team on Saturday, Simeone rested practically every player apart from goalkeeper Juan Musso in a 2-1 defeat to Sevilla. So there is not much to read into that defeat, with Atlético's focus very much more on Europe and the Copa del Rey, the final of which they play this coming weekend against Real Sociedad.

Meanwhile, they have no hope of winning La Liga, but are fairly safely poised to claim one of the Champions League berths.

Atlético lost Slovak defender David Hancko to an ankle injury in the first leg, and it is uncertain whether he will be fit in time for the return. Another key man at the back, Marc Pubill, picked up a yellow and is suspended for this one.

Jose Giménez, Johnny Cardoso and Pablo Barrios are also likely losses to injury on the home front, although goalkeeper Jan Oblak may be set to return from an absence of his own.

What they're saying

Hansi Flick seemed confident enough that his team can get the job done, difficult though it might be: "I believe in my team and I think we can do it - it's possible. I know we are up against a strong Atlético side with great players. We have to secure in defence and brave in attack. We have to take our chances as that was the difference in the first leg." FULL STORY

Lamine Yamal echoed his coach's words, insisting that "a comeback is no miracle. We start 2–0 down, but I trust my team. We’re convinced it’s not over and that a comeback is very possible.” FULL STORY

If they are confident, then so are we! For the over 3,00 fans in the stadium, and millions more watching at home, today could be a very special day. Let's hope so!

Força Barça