The stage was set for a thrilling matchup as Atlético Madrid hosted Barcelona, with the winner advancing to the Copa del Rey final. But it was the visitors who stole the show, setting up a mouth-watering El Clásico showdown against Real Madrid.
Atlético started strong, but their final passes were off the mark. Barcelona took control after the first 15 minutes, with their collective plays causing trouble for the home team. It was only a matter of time before they scored, and they did just that.
Ferrán Torres replaced Robert Lewandowski in the starting lineup and made an instant impact, scoring a goal at the Metropolitano just like he did last month in LaLiga. It was a beautiful team play, with Raphinha feeding the ball to 17-year-old Yamal, who assisted his compatriot with a precise pass. Torres finished it off with a quick strike, despite Musso’s rapid response.
Turning Point
At halftime, Diego Simeone made three changes, including two yellow-carded players, and switched to a 4-3-3 formation to boost his team’s offense. One of the newcomers was Sorloth, who had two golden opportunities to score in the second half.
- First, he wasted a one-on-one chance with Szczesny, shooting wide of the post.
- Then, he managed to score, but the goal was immediately disallowed due to an offside position, confirmed by the VAR at the 70-minute mark.
Despite being down, Atlético failed to spark, only creating more scoring chances during injury time. But Ronald Araújo was solid in the air, clearing both attempts and securing the win for Barcelona.
El Clásico Awaits
With this victory, Barcelona is headed to the Copa del Rey final, where they’ll face off against arch-rivals Real Madrid. It’s been 11 years since the two teams last met in the final, and the stage is set for an epic showdown. The question on everyone’s mind: can Barcelona take down their bitter rivals and claim the title? Only time will tell.