Barcelona vs. Atletico Madrid: 5 differences between la Liga chasing sides

Barcelona take on Atletico Madrid in one of the biggest matches so far this season in la Liga on Sunday. Both sides come into the game level on 38 points, second and third in the table behind Real Madrid.

Atletico's 1-1 draw at Camp Nou earned them the league title at the end of last season, so this is a chance for Barça to gain 'revenge'. 

Here are the five biggest differences between the two clubs at the moment:

TORRES, AN IDOL RETURNS; MESSI, FEAR HE COULD LEAVE

News of possible offers for Lionel Messi from the Premier League, from Chelsea and Manchester City, come after rumours of his displeasure at the club in recent months. 

Problems with the tax office, the departures of friends (Cesc, Pinto...) and his differences with Luis Enrique have fuelled stories of him becoming available. 

Perhaps slightly worried, fans at Camp Nou cheered and clapped him throughout the match against Elche with the hope of showing their unconditional support for the Argentine. 

He is the symbol of the great Barça and the flag-bearer of the new project.

Meanwhile, at Atletico, the return of Fernando Torres as the prodigal son has brought euphoria. The Vicente Calderon was full for his presentation and 'El Niño' has been quickly accepted by his new teammates.

Even without Torres, Atletico became a team of winners, winning the Liga, the Copa, the Europa League and the Super Cups in Spain and In Europe. The only thing lacking? The Champions League. 

VICTORY AGAINST REAL MADRID; FIASCO AGAINST LA REAL

Atletico Madrid's start to 2015 could not have been any better. After beating Levante, they defeated Real Madrid in the Copa del Rey (2-0) to put themselves in a good position to qualify for the quarter-finals... where they would meet Barça.

They're in the fight for the Liga and going strong in the Champions League as well. There are lots of reasons for optimism at the Calderon.

In contrast, Barça's 5-0 win against Elche only served to quieten the rising noise. The defeat at Anoeta against Real Sociedad, underlined by the problems between Messi and Enrique, was a disaster.

What is worst about it is that they failed to take advantage of Madrid losing at Valencia earlier that day.

DIEGO SIMEONE, STRENGTHENED; LUIS ENRIQUE, QUESTIONED

Atletico and their fans have the feeling they are experiencing a golden era, even if they did lose the Champions League final to Real Madrid at the end of last season. 

'Cholismo' continues to fuel belief in the dressing room and in the stands. 

Diego Pablo Simeone is strong and completely in charge of a project which draws neither questions on the style of play nor on the decisions made by the manager. 

It was hoped Luis Enrique could have a similar effect when he took over from Gerardo Martino. The expectations on the former Barça player were high. 

However, 'Lucho' is still to show his hand in terms of tactics or style of play, while it's not yet clear if he has control of the dressing room after the stories that emerged in the last week.

Problems with Gerard Pique highlighted this earlier in the season; the Messi saga has merely backed things up. 

From the stands on Thursday night, as Barça beat Elche in the Copa, there was unanimous support for Messi, while there were whistles for the Barcelona boss Luis Enrique.

PEACE FOR CEREZO; ELECTIONS FOR BARTOMEU

It may be strange considering his background, but the reality is that Atletico Madrid president Enrique Cerezo is living peacefully at the moment at an institutional level. 

He seems to be balancing out the club's economic problems, while also maintaining a squad capable of competing at the highest level, despite the losses of the likes of Thibaut Courtois and Diego Costa...

At Barcelona, Josep Maria Bartomeu has been obliged to call elections after a string of mistakes at board level heaped controversy on the club. 

NO VIOLENCE AT CAMP NOU; PROBLEMS AT ATLETICO

The only negative aspect for Los Rojiblacos at the moment is the recent fighting between Frente Atletico and ultras from Deportivo de La Coruña. One Depor fan was left dead.

Barça can consider themselves pioneers when it comes to kicking violence out of Spanish football. Joan Laporta expelled hooligans from Camp Nou, helping to eradicate problems from the stadium.