Barcelona and Atlético Madrid Play Out Epic 4-4 Thriller in Copa del Rey
What a game! If you missed Barcelona vs. Atlético Madrid, you missed one of the wildest matches of the season. Eight goals, relentless attacking football, and a dramatic last-minute equalizer—this Copa del Rey semi-final first leg had everything!
Barcelona manager Hansi Flick wasn’t happy, though. Despite his team’s impressive comeback and attacking display, their defensive lapses cost them dearly. Flick made it clear after the match that conceding four goals is simply unacceptable for a club like Barça. He admitted that while the team showed great resilience, they must learn to close out games properly.
And honestly, he has a point. Barcelona had fought back from being 2-0 down early on, turned the game around to lead 4-2, and still somehow let Atlético claw their way back. Let’s break down how it all unfolded.
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The game exploded into life right from the first minute. Atlético struck fast, with Julián Álvarez scoring almost immediately. Then, just five minutes later, Antoine Griezmann doubled their lead. A nightmare start for Barcelona. But credit where it’s due—Barça responded quickly. Pedri pulled one back in the 19th minute, and then, just two minutes later, young Pau Cubarsí leveled the score at 2-2. The Camp Nou erupted.
Before halftime, Barcelona completed their comeback. Íñigo Martínez rose highest from a corner in the 41st minute to make it 3-2. Then, in the second half, Robert Lewandowski seemingly sealed the game, tapping in a brilliant assist from Lamine Yamal in the 74th minute. 4-2. Game over, right? Not with this Atlético side.
Marcos Llorente gave Atlético hope in the 84th minute, making it 4-3. And then, deep into stoppage time, Alexander Sørloth stunned the home crowd, scoring the dramatic equalizer in the 93rd minute. Unbelievable scenes.
Flick’s frustration was understandable. His team had done all the hard work but couldn’t hold on. He admitted the squad is young and still developing, but that’s no excuse for letting a two-goal lead slip so late in the game. On the flip side, he also praised the attacking display and the fighting spirit the team showed after the disastrous start.
For Atlético, this result feels like a win. They head into the second leg at home on April 2 with confidence, knowing they can hurt this Barcelona defense. As for Barça, they’ll need to fix those defensive issues fast if they want to book their place in the final.
One thing’s for sure—this semi-final is far from over, and the return leg promises to be another blockbuster!
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