Luis Suarez v Diego Godin: The key battle when Barcelona face Atletico Madrid
Saturday 30 January 2016 13:15, UK
On Saturday, La Liga’s top two sides go head to head at the Nou Camp.
Barcelona, unbeaten in 25 games in all competitions, face Atletico Madrid, who have suffered just two defeats in their last 25 games in all competitions.
Barca have the best home record in Spain's top-flight, taking 31 points from a possible 33, while Atletico have the best away league record, having won 25 points on their travels - eight more than any other side.
Barcelona's fine home form this season has undoubtedly been sparked by Luis Suarez.
The 29-year-old has scored 13 goals in 10 home league appearances, more home goals than any other La Liga player, and has contributed 34 per cent of Barcelona's 38 home goals this season.
Suarez has scored 24 goals in 24 home appearances since joining Barcelona in July 2014, a total that only Lionel Messi (36) and Cristiano Ronaldo (34) can better in that time.
It is only that duo who, across Europe's top five leagues, can eclipse Suarez's 41 goals in 40 home appearances since the start of October 2013, when he returned for Liverpool after a 10-match ban.
On Saturday, Suarez will face international team-mate Diego Godin.
A key component of Diego Simeone's back four, playing every minute of his sides' 21 League games, the Uruguayan centre-back has made a club high 123 clearances and 72 interceptions this season.
Godin has been instrumental in organising an Atletico defence that has kept 14 clean sheets, including nine in their last 11 games, and conceded just eight goals in La Liga. These statistics mean that Atleti are leaders in both categories across Europe's top five Leagues.
It has been in away games that Atletico have been particularly resolute with just three goals scored against them in 11 La Liga games on the road.
Indeed, in Godin's last 17 away league appearances, Atletico have kept 13 clean sheets and conceded just four goals.
Deportivo La Coruna's Oriol Riera and Lucas Perez, Villarreal's Leo Baptistao and Malaga's Charles are the only players to have breached Atleti's defence in away games since March 2015.
Since the start of last season no outfield La Liga player has been involved in as many away clean sheets as Godin. It is likely that he will need to add to that tally if he is to experience another memorable visit to the Nou Camp, just as he did in May 2014 when his equalising goal clinched Atletico their first La Liga title in 18 years.
Suarez, on the other hand, will be looking to add to his 18 league goals this season and inspire his side to a sixth straight win against their title rivals.
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