Aston Villa boss Unai Emery said Ollie Watkins’ knee injury sustained in the 4-0 Europa Conference League last-16 win over 10-man Ajax was “not more than a cut”.

Watkins, named in England boss Gareth Southgate’s latest squad earlier on Thursday, headed Villa in front in the 25th minute, having already sustained the injury in a challenge with Ajax goalkeeper Diant Ramaj.

But the former Brentford striker limped off eight minutes later and had to watch his team-mates run riot in the second half with Leon Bailey, John Duran and Moussa Diaby goals killing off the tie after last week’s goalless draw in Amsterdam.

It sent Villa through to their first European quarter-final since 1998 and their mood will be heightened even more by the good news on Watkins’ injury.

“The injury is not more than a cut on the knee,” boss Unai Emery said. “Maybe he is available for Sunday, I think maybe we have to wait for tomorrow and Saturday, but it is a cut.”

Watkins’ goal put Villa on course for a win which became much easier in the second half when Ajax were reduced to 10 men.

Villa were 2-0 up by that point through Bailey’s strike, with Duran and Diaby booking their spot in the next round.

“We were very respectful of them. We were how we needed to face them here with our supporters at Villa Park, trying to perform better than the opposition with our quality on the pitch,” the Spaniard added.

“The second half was easier for us after the red card. We’re happy because we are motivated in this competition.”

Ajax defender Devyne Rensch was frank in his assessment of his side’s exit.

He said: “Yeah, it’s s**t. It’s painful we are used to winning for cups and competing and that is not going to happen.

“It’s a real let down, it’s a disappointment, it shouldn’t be happening, but we have to move on.

“Being Ajax we are always in the running for the top prizes and this season it is just not the case and it is very difficult to accept that.”

Tom Cleverley sees bright future for Watford after win at Birmingham

Watford interim manager Tom Cleverley thinks there is a bright future for the club after the Hornets secured a 1-0 victory over Birmingham.

Cleverley was announced as interim boss after the sacking of Valerien Ismael and got off to a winning start thanks to Emmanuel Dennis’ 44th-minute goal.

Dennis pounced on a mistake from the hosts to fire the ball past goalkeeper John Ruddy for what ultimately proved the match-winner at St Andrew’s.

Cleverley said the victory was what he dreamt of in the build-up to the game but praised Birmingham for their performance.

“It’s exactly what the doctor ordered and it’s what I dreamt of last night,” Cleverley said.

“It wasn’t as perfect as it sounds, and we will address some of the problems we faced but I think if the players play with that much desire and heart to stop the ball going in our goal, and we know the quality our team possesses, there’s a bright future in us.

“I came to their game Tuesday and saw them in quite a flat way but today I thought they were excellent, so credit to us for winning the game.”

Cleverley praised his back four in being an integral part of claiming the three points and striker Dennis for scoring the winning goal.

“I can’t praise the back four enough, two academy products, and (Ryan) Porteous was the old head of the four and Dan (Bachmann) was called on a few times, a few more than I like and that’s my job to organise that better,” Cleverley added.

“The main thing today was the result and that back four deserves a big pat on the back.

“We know that (Emmanuel) Dennis has that explosive burst so as a defender you may think you are comfortable on the ball but then he appears from nowhere.

“We spoke to the players, we thought we’d create chances through high regains today and we didn’t win as many balls as we liked but the one that mattered went in.”

Birmingham assistant manager Mark Venus said he could not fault the effort of his players.

“I can’t protect the players for Tuesday, but I can protect them today, I thought they gave everything on the pitch,” Venus said.

“We talk about missing a little bit of quality, that was evident again today, but as far as energy, intensity, desire, purpose and team spirit, that was all there today.”

Venus says his players need be more ruthless in front of goal as they failed to score for a third successive league match.

“We have to finish better, let’s see it as it is, we have to finish better and we have to put the ball in the net,” Venus added.

“We have to raise our quality, we have to do better all those things, all the other things were all there today.”

Home
/
La Liga
Atletico Madrid vs Barcelona: Preview, predictions and lineups
Atletico Madrid host Barcelona in La Liga this Sunday in the capital
Both sides are competing for a guaranteed top four spot
The Catalan giants have the better recent record in this fixture

By Ewan Ross-Murray
Mar 16, 2024
Atletico Madrid and Barcelona both booked their spot in the Champions League quarter-finals this week and they will go head-to-head with one another in La Liga this Sunday.

The capital side have been in patchy form in recent weeks, but their woes have almost exclusively come on the road. They boast a sensational home record and can close the gap between them and Barcelona to just two points this weekend, even if they have lost the last three games against the Catalan side 1-0.

Barcelona have been re-energised since Xavi announced his departure at the end of the season and are now unbeaten in their last nine matches. They are now not too far off Clasico rivals Real Madrid at the summit of La Liga, although they have undoubtedly left a title charge far too late.

Here's 90min's preview of Atletico Madrid vs Barcelona on Sunday.

What times does Atletico Madrid vs Barcelona kick-off?
Location: Madrid, Spain
Stadium: Metropolitano Stadium
Date: Sunday 17 March
Kick-off Time: 20:00 GMT / 15:00 ET / 12:00 PT
Referee: Jose Maria Sanchez Martinez
VAR: Mario Melero Lopez
Atletico Madrid vs Barcelona H2H record (Last Five Games)
Atletico Madrid: 1 win
Barcelona: 4 wins
Draws: 0
Last meeting: Barcelona 1-0 Atletico Madrid (3 December 2023) - La Liga
Current form (all competitions)
Atletico Madrid

Barcelona

Atletico Madrid 2-1 Inter - 13/03/2024

Barcelona 3-1 Napoli - 12/03/2024

Cadiz 2-0 Atletico Madrid - 09/03/2024

Barcelona 1-0 Mallorca - 08/03/2024

Atletico Madrid 2-1 Real Betis - 03/03/2024

Athletic Club 0-0 Barcelona - 03/03/2024

Athletic Club 3-0 Atletico Madrid - 29/02/2024

Barcelona 4-0 Getafe - 24/02/2024

Almeria 2-2 Atletico Madrid - 24/02/2024

Napoli 1-1 Barcelona - 21/02/2024

How to watch Atletico Madrid vs Barcelona on TV and live stream
Country

TV channel/live stream

United Kingdom

ITV4, ITVX, Viaplay Sports 1, Viaplay UK, LaLigaTV

United States

ESPN+, ESPN Deportes

Canada

TSN+

Atletico Madrid team news
Jose Maria Gimenez
Jose Maria Gimenez is missing for Barcelona / Ciancaphoto Studio/GettyImages
Diego Simeone doesn't have too many absentees to contend with ahead of Barca's visit to the Metropolitano, with Jose Maria Gimenez and Thomas Lemar his most influential players currently on the treatment table. Both could return shortly after the international break, but will also be absent for Sunday.

Vitolo and Marcos Paulo are long-term absentees for Simeone and are currently out with cruciate ligament injuries.

Atletico Madrid predicted lineup vs Barcelona
Atletico Madrid predicted lineup (3-5-2): Oblak; Savic, Witsel, Azpilicueta; Llorente, De Paul, Koke, Saul Niguez, Lino; Griezmann, Morata.

Barcelona team news
Frenkie De Jong
De Jong is still missing for Barca / Juan Manuel Serrano Arce/GettyImages
Xavi has more injuries to deal with than his managerial counterpart, with some key players sidelined again for Barcelona.

In the midfield, the trip of Frenkie de Jong, Pedri and Gavi are all out of action at present, with the latter out for the rest of the season. Both De Jong and Pedri could return shortly after the international break.

Ferran Torres should be missing again with a thigh problem, while Alejandro Balde is missing at left-back. Marcos Alonso could be out as well with a back problem but has a chance of featuring on Sunday.

Barcelona predicted lineup vs Atletico Madrid
Barcelona predicted lineup (4-3-3): Ter Stegen; Kounde, Araujo, Cubarsi, Cancelo; Lopez, Christensen, Gundogan; Yamal, Lewandowski, Raphinha.

Atletico Madrid vs Barcelona score prediction
Atletico have been flying at home this term and are top of the La Liga standings based on their form at the Metropolitano - dropping just two points all year. Their recent record against Barcelona is not ideal, but they may be marginal favourites for Sunday's exciting encounter.

Barcelona may have improved in recent weeks but their defensive performance left a lot to be desired in their 3-1 victory over Napoli midweek, with midfield absentees potentially proving costly in the capital.

Prediction: Atletico Madrid 2-1 Barcelona
READ THE LATEST LA LIGA NEWS, RUMOURS & GOSSIP
•
Osasuna 2-4 Real Madrid: Player ratings as Vinicius Junior strikes twice in routine win
•
Xavi names favourite for Barcelona vs PSG in Champions League
•
Real Madrid file hate crime complaint over new Vinicius Junior abuse
•
Ivan Toney names club he'd like to join this summer
Related Topics
Atletico Madrid
La Liga
Xavi
Pedri
Champions League