Atletico Madrid delivered a commanding performance on Thursday night, dismantling Copa del Rey holders Barcelona 4-0 in the first leg of their semi-final showdown.
Diego Simeone’s men seized control early after an own goal by Eric Garcia handed them the advantage. The hosts then piled on the pressure, with goals from Antoine Griezmann, Ademola Lookman, and Julian Alvarez securing a four-goal cushion before the break.
The emphatic victory gives Atletico a huge advantage ahead of the return leg at Camp Nou on March 3, leaving Barcelona with a mountain to climb.
First-Half Domination
Atletico struck after just seven minutes when a misplaced pass from Garcia bobbled awkwardly on the uneven Metropolitano pitch. The ball slipped under goalkeeper Joan Garcia’s foot and trickled toward goal. Although Lookman made sure by smashing it into the net, the goal was officially recorded as an Eric Garcia own goal.
The Rojiblancos continued to exploit Barcelona’s high defensive line, repeatedly using the pace of Giuliano Simeone and Lookman to devastating effect.
Former Barcelona forward Griezmann calmly slotted home Atletico’s second after another swift attacking move, as the Spanish champions struggled to cope with the hosts’ intensity.
Barcelona nearly responded when Fermin Lopez struck the crossbar, but Atletico remained in control. Julian Alvarez came close to extending the lead further before his effort was cleared off the line by Jules Kounde.
Lookman eventually added the third goal, finishing off a flowing team move that sparked wild celebrations from coach Simeone on the touchline.
Alvarez Ends Goal Drought
Alvarez, who had not scored in his previous 11 matches, finally broke his dry spell by firing in Atletico’s fourth goal from just inside the penalty area.
Goalkeeper Juan Musso ensured the hosts went into halftime with a clean sheet, making a key save from Lopez.
Barcelona thought they had reduced the deficit in the second half when Pau Cubarsi found the net, but the goal was ruled out after a lengthy VAR review for offside.
Their frustration deepened in the closing stages when Eric Garcia received a red card for fouling Alex Baena during a dangerous run. The dismissal compounded an already difficult night for the league leaders.
Both sides created further chances in a frantic finale, but the scoreline remained unchanged.
With Atletico struggling in La Liga and facing questions about their Champions League prospects, the Copa del Rey now represents their clearest path to silverware this season.
In the other semi-final first leg on Wednesday, Real Sociedad edged Athletic Bilbao 1-0.
What you should know
Atletico Madrid’s 4-0 victory gives them a commanding advantage heading into the second leg of the Copa del Rey semi-final at Camp Nou.
Barcelona, record 32-time winners of the competition, now face a daunting task to overturn the deficit. The result also highlights Atletico’s renewed focus on domestic cup success, especially with their La Liga campaign faltering and uncertainty surrounding their European ambitions. Julian Alvarez’s return to scoring form and Lookman’s influential display were key highlights of the night.
Meanwhile, Barcelona’s defensive lapses and Eric Garcia’s red card compounded a disappointing performance. The second leg on March 3 will determine whether Barcelona can stage a dramatic comeback or if Atletico will book their place in the final.
