Madrid – Atlético Madrid delivered a stunning performance, dismantling Barcelona 4-0 in the first leg of their Copa del Rey semifinal at the Metropolitano stadium on . The victory, fueled by a disastrous first half for the visitors, puts Atlético in a commanding position heading into the second leg.
The shockwaves began early, in the 7th minute, with a bizarre sequence involving Barcelona’s Joan García. Attempting to control a pass from Eric García, the ball slipped under his foot, and while García frantically tried to prevent it from crossing the line, his efforts were in vain. Atlético forward Ademola Lookman was then on hand to slot the ball into the net, though the initial ruling of whether the ball had fully crossed the line before Lookman’s touch was ultimately irrelevant.
Atlético quickly capitalized on the momentum. Antoine Griezmann extended the lead to 2-0 in the 14th minute, expertly sweeping the ball into the bottom corner after a fluid team move. Lookman continued his impressive form, adding a third goal in the 33rd minute, receiving a flicked pass from Julián Álvarez and drilling a shot past García. Álvarez then capped off the first-half rout with a fourth goal in stoppage time, completing a remarkable opening 45 minutes for Diego Simeone’s side.
Barcelona struggled to regain composure in the second half. While they managed to avoid further damage to the scoreline, their evening took another turn for the worse when Eric García received a red card in the 85th minute for a reckless challenge. Prior to the dismissal, Barcelona had a goal from Pau Cubarsí ruled out after a lengthy VAR review, adding to their frustration.
The match wasn’t without its earlier near misses for Barcelona. Fermín López came close to pulling one back in the 19th minute, crashing a volley against the crossbar. Earlier in the game, Joan García had made a crucial save to deny Giuliano Simeone at point-blank range, momentarily halting Atlético’s early onslaught.
Atlético’s dominance wasn’t solely about Barcelona’s errors. A flowing move saw Griezmann double the advantage, showcasing the team’s attacking prowess. Álvarez’s initial attempt was cleared off the line by Jules Koundé, but the relentless pressure eventually yielded a third goal through Lookman, who continued to be a constant threat.
The disallowed goal for Cubarsí in the 52nd minute, following an extensive VAR check lasting approximately eight minutes, further dampened Barcelona’s spirits. The lengthy review underscored the scrutiny surrounding potential offside calls in modern football.
The sending off of Eric García escalated tensions, leading to a brief melee between players and coaching staff on the touchline before order was restored. Barcelona’s final opportunity, a header from Ferran Torres from a corner, sailed wide, summing up a disappointing night for the La Liga leaders.
This result represents a significant setback for Barcelona, particularly given their status as league leaders. Atlético, meanwhile, have established a strong foothold in the tie and will carry considerable confidence into the second leg. The comprehensive nature of the victory highlights Atlético’s tactical discipline and clinical finishing, while exposing vulnerabilities in Barcelona’s defense.
The Copa del Rey semifinal presents a crucial opportunity for Atlético to secure silverware this season. Their performance against Barcelona demonstrates their ambition and ability to compete at the highest level. Barcelona will need to produce a remarkable turnaround in the second leg to keep their hopes of a domestic double alive.
The Associated Press and PA contributed to this report.
