Barcelona Battles Atletico on Slippery Pitch

Barcelona aims to overcome a two-goal deficit against Atletico Madrid in their Champions League quarter-final. However, the condition of the Metropolitano Stadium's pitch has surfaced as a significant concern for the Catalan club. Barcelona's coaching staff reportedly discussed the pitch with a UEFA delegate after a training session, noting it appeared worse than during their previous visit.

Despite Barcelona's apprehension, Atletico sources assert the pitch is maintained to appropriate standards and complies with UEFA regulations. They believe the field has improved since the start of the year and has never been a problem for visiting teams. Several high-profile incidents of players slipping have been noted at the stadium, raising questions about its consistency.

Past matches at the Metropolitano have seen the pitch contribute to crucial moments. Notably, in a previous Copa del Rey encounter, a goalkeeper's slip on the surface led to an early goal for Atletico. More recently, Tottenham Hotspur also reportedly suffered due to the pitch's condition in their round of 16 tie.

While Atletico players themselves have previously voiced criticism about the pitch's quality, the club's current stance is that it meets all necessary requirements. Barcelona's previous complaint to UEFA regarding a penalty incident in the first leg was deemed inadmissible.