According to a report by Barca Universal on Sunday, November 8, 2026, Barcelona winger Anthony Gordon is preparing for a major test against Atletico Madrid as he seeks to overcome his previous disappointing experience against Diego Simeone’s side.

The English attacker is expected to play an important role when Barcelona travel to the Metropolitano this weekend. The fixture will mark Gordon’s first competitive appearance at the stadium as a Barcelona player, giving him an opportunity to demonstrate his attacking qualities against one of La Liga’s toughest opponents.

However, his previous encounter with Atletico provides a reminder of the challenges he could face.

According to Diario SPORT, Gordon has played against Atletico only once in his professional career. The meeting took place in August last year during the Sepa Cup, when he was still representing Newcastle United.

Gordon operated in a central attacking role as Newcastle suffered a 2-0 defeat. Atletico’s disciplined defensive structure and aggressive approach restricted his involvement, preventing him from making a significant impact on the match.

His difficult afternoon ended in the 85th minute when he was substituted after experiencing ankle discomfort. The encounter highlighted the physical demands Atletico can impose on opposing attackers.

This time, however, Gordon is expected to feature on the left wing, where his pace, movement and creativity could give Barcelona additional attacking options.

Since joining Barcelona during the summer transfer window, the Englishman has registered three goals and five assists across all competitions. His performances have also helped him establish himself on the left flank ahead of Karim Adeyemi.

Despite making progress under manager Hansi Flick, Gordon still has areas to improve. His display against Real Madrid in the first El Clasico of the season attracted criticism, with questions raised about his consistency in high pressure encounters.

His away record in La Liga is another concern. Gordon is yet to score a league goal on the road, with his only domestic strikes coming in home fixtures against Getafe and Alaves.

The trip to Atletico therefore presents an opportunity for the winger to improve his away record and strengthen his position in Flick’s starting plans.

A strong performance at the Metropolitano would also demonstrate his ability to cope with physically demanding opponents and deliver for Barcelona in difficult away fixtures.