Barcelona Triumphs Over Atletico To Set Up El Clasico Copa del Rey Final

Barcelona Triumphs Over Atletico To Set Up El Clasico Copa del Rey Final

Barcelona secured a spot in the Copa del Rey final against arch-rivals Real Madrid after defeating Atletico Madrid 1-0 in the semi-final second leg on Wednesday. Ferran Torres scored the decisive goal at the Metropolitano Stadium, allowing Barca to progress with a 5-4 aggregate victory after the thrilling 4-4 first-leg draw.…READ MORE…

The win bolsters Barcelona’s remarkable run in 2025, as they remain unbeaten in 21 games, while Atletico Madrid’s defeat leaves them with limited prospects for the remainder of the season. The Catalan giants, who are chasing a historic quadruple, last suffered a loss to Atletico before Christmas, a victory that had briefly placed Diego Simeone’s side at the top of La Liga. Currently, Atletico trail Barcelona by nine points with nine games left.

Barcelona coach Hansi Flick made a tactical decision to start winger Raphinha, prompting Atletico to adopt a physical approach to contain him. Cesar Azpilicueta was booked for a challenge on the Brazilian, narrowly avoiding a red card after a VAR check. Rodrigo de Paul also saw yellow for another heavy tackle on Raphinha.

Seventeen-year-old Lamine Yamal showcased his talent on the opposite flank, creating chances and setting up Torres for the match-winning goal. Despite some missed opportunities, including a wayward shot from Yamal and a saved attempt from Raphinha, Barcelona maintained control.

Atletico tried to respond by introducing Alexander Sorloth at halftime, hoping to replicate his scoring success from previous encounters against Barcelona. Sorloth came close to equalizing but was ruled offside, while Antoine Griezmann was left unmarked during a missed opportunity.

As Atletico pushed for a comeback, Flick brought on top scorer Robert Lewandowski to solidify Barcelona’s attack, but the Polish forward struggled to make an impact. In the final minutes, Atletico applied pressure, with goalkeeper Juan Musso joining the attack for a late set-piece, but Barcelona held firm to secure their place in the final.

The eagerly anticipated Copa del Rey final will now feature an El Clasico showdown between Barcelona and Real Madrid.