Tension in the stands and calm from management before Atlético and FC Barcelona clash

Attention turns to the clash between Atlético and FC Barcelona this Sunday evening at the Metropolitano Stadium, amidst a charged atmosphere, alongside attempts to ease relations between the clubs' administrations after recent disputes.

According to "Mundo Deportivo", Atlético fans are preparing to welcome FC Barcelona with a passionate and aggressive atmosphere, in the first visit of the Catalan team to Metropolitano since the crisis over the attempted signing of Julián Alvarez, which heightened tensions between the two clubs last summer.

The fierce encounters between the two teams in the Copa del Rey and UEFA Champions League last season, along with the exchanged statements and messages on social media, have intensified their rivalry, leading to complaints being filed with the Spanish Football Federation and FIFA, before a symbolic fine was imposed at the local level.

On the other hand, the administrative relations are experiencing a relative calm, after Juan Laporta, the president of FC Barcelona, confirmed last month that he had successfully overcome the disagreements with Miguel Ángel Gil Marín, the CEO of Atlético, while Enrique Cerezo, the president of the Madrid club, adopted statements calling for de-escalation.

A lunch gathering between the managements of the two clubs is set to take place for the first time since the Julián Alvarez crisis, at 3 PM at the Di María restaurant in Madrid, with the presence of Cerezo and David Villa, alongside Laporta and several officials from FC Barcelona. Deco, Bojan Krkić, and Alejandro Echevarría will be absent from the lunch despite attending the match, while the presence of Gil Marin will be limited to the meeting.

The Spanish newspaper reported that the match will see a minute's silence before kick-off, in tribute to Jesús de Miguel, the Tenerife striker who passed away last Tuesday. Play will also be stopped again in the 9th minute in mourning for him.