Barcelona travel to the Metropolitano Stadium in Madrid on Tuesday night needing to overturn a 2-0 deficit against Atletico Madrid to keep alive their hopes of a first UEFA Champions League title since 2015. The match, which kicks off at 21:00 local time (19:00 GMT), is the third meeting between the two Spanish clubs in just ten days and promises to be one of the most dramatic nights of this season's competition.

Atletico earned their commanding advantage in the first leg at Barcelona's Camp Nou last week in a match that turned on a pivotal moment: Barcelona defender Pau Cubarsi was sent off for bringing down Giuliano Simeone — son of Atletico coach Diego Simeone — who was clean through on goal. Julian Alvarez converted the resulting free kick on the stroke of half-time, and Alexander Sorloth doubled the lead in the 70th minute to give Diego Simeone's side a cushion that reflects their strong European home record this season. Atletico, who have reached two Champions League finals (in 2014 and 2016) without ever lifting the trophy — losing both times to city rivals Real Madrid — are now heavy favourites to reach the semi-finals for the third time under Simeone.

Barcelona head into the tie with momentum in domestic football, having thrashed local rivals Espanyol 4-1 at the weekend to move nine points clear at the top of La Liga with seven games remaining. Lamine Yamal, the 17-year-old winger who has been one of the most electrifying players in Europe this season, was instrumental again with two assists and a late goal. Atletico, by contrast, rotated their squad heavily for a 2-1 defeat at Sevilla on Saturday, preserving energy for Tuesday's decisive encounter. Cubarsi will miss the return leg through suspension, with Ronald Araujo stepping in, while Atletico are without suspended full-back Marc Pubill and have doubts over Jose Gimenez, Pablo Barrios and David Hancko.

Confidence, or at least the performance of it, was on clear display at Barcelona's pre-match press conference.