Barcelona and Atletico Madrid played out a remarkable 4-4 draw in the first leg of the Copa del Rey semifinal at the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys on Tuesday evening. The match saw both teams coming from behind, with multiple lead changes and dramatic late goals making it one of the most thrilling encounters of the tournament.
Atletico Madrid began the match with explosive energy, going ahead within just 46 seconds. Julian Alvarez capitalized on defensive lapses by Barcelona, scoring after connecting with Antoine Griezmann’s cross. Just five minutes later, Griezmann himself doubled the lead, showcasing his finesse with a shot past goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny after receiving a stunning pass from Alvarez. The visitors seemed well on their way to securing victory early on, as they quickly became 2-0 up.
Barcelona, unwilling to bow down, swiftly started their comeback. They pulled one goal back on the 20-minute mark when Pedri finished effectively from a cutback by Jules Koundé. The momentum shifted dramatically as Pau Cubarsi, marking his first goal for the club, netted just a minute later with a powerful header from Raphinha’s corner, leveling the score at 2-2. The first half concluded with Barcelona taking the lead at 3-2, as Iñigo Martínez scored through another well-executed play.
Robert Lewandowski, who had started the match on the bench, was brought on to make his impact felt and he did just before the end of the second half, taking advantage of great work from teenage talent Lamine Yamal to score Barcelona’s fourth goal, increasing their lead to 4-2. It appeared the hosts would run away with the game until Atletico mounted one last challenge.
Marcos Llorente initiated the comeback for Atletico with a powerful strike from outside the box in the 84th minute, narrowing the score to 4-3. The tension escalated as the match headed deep int the stoppage time, where Alexander Sørloth, reminiscent of his previous goal against Barcelona earlier this season, scored the equalizer to tie the game at 4-4 just moments before the final whistle.
This late equalizer drew wild celebrations from Atletico’s coach Diego Simeone, who had witnessed his team claw back from two goals down to secure what felt like a win. "Sørloth’s goal ends a crazy game in Catalonia. Atleti will certainly be the happier of the two teams with the 4-4 scoreline ahead of the second leg at the Metropolitano," noted one commentator after the turbulent match.
The result leaves the matchup delicately poised as both teams prepare for the return leg on April 2 at the Metropolitano Stadium, where Atletico will host Barcelona. Each team demonstrated their capability to perform under pressure—Atletico with their explosive start and persistence, and Barcelona with their resilience to come back from behind. The dramatic swings throughout the match have set the stage for what promises to be another classic encounter.
Following the match, the tactical decisions by both coaches attracted attention. Hansi Flick's choice to leave Lewandowski out of the starting lineup was particularly notable, as the Polish striker's substitution changed the momentum for Barcelona when he was introduced. Meanwhile, Simeone's side, battling tight schedules including this semifinal and La Liga's demands, managed to respond both tactically and emotionally to overcome adversity during the match.
Fans of both clubs will eagerly await the next clash with hopes of witnessing another electrifying match. For now, the Copa del Rey continues to showcase thrilling football as two of Spain’s biggest clubs fight for glory, illustrating the unpredictable nature of knockout tournaments.