Barcelona and Atletico Madrid faced off on Tuesday night in what proved to be one of the most exhilarating matches of the Copa del Rey semifinals, ending with a thrilling 4-4 draw at Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys. With both teams vying for a spot in the finals, the stakes couldn't have been higher.
The clash started dramatically for Barcelona, who found themselves on the back foot right from the kick-off. Just 20 seconds in, Atletico struck first. An early cross from Antoine Griezmann was flicked on by Barcelona's on-loan defender, Clement Lenglet, and Julián Álvarez volleyed it home to give the visitors the lead. Within six minutes, things went from bad to worse for the Catalans as Álvarez recovered possession and assisted Griezmann, who skillfully slotted the ball past Wojciech Szczęsny to make it 2-0.
If there had been any doubts about Barcelona's determination, they were quickly quashed. Despite the slow start, they regrouped and leveled the match within minutes. The comeback began with Pedri tapping home from 12 yards after Jules Koundé set him up, and just two minutes later, Pau Cubarsí—who was making his first appearance for the senior team—rose unmarked at the back post to head home from a corner, leveling the score at 2-2.
The frenzy didn't stop there. Barcelona completed their remarkable turnaround just before halftime, with Iñigo Martinez heading the ball home from yet another corner. By the time the whistle blew for half-time, the home side had taken the lead 3-2.
After the break, both teams seemed determined to seize control of the match. Barcelona looked to extend their lead and eventually did so when Robert Lewandowski scored, firing the ball home after some brilliant work from Lamine Yamal to make it 4-2. But just as it seemed the match was slipping away from Atletico, they rallied late on thanks to Marcos Llorente, who decreased the deficit with just six minutes on the clock.
Then came the final twist. With the match seemingly heading for Barcelona's favor, Alexander Sørloth—a substitute—found the equalizer deep in stoppage time, sending the visiting supporters wild and making it 4-4.
The emotionally charged atmosphere reflected the meaning of the tie. Both teams are vying for the prestigious Copa del Rey, with Barcelona holding the trophy 31 times, compared to Atletico's 10 wins.
Such high-stakes drama sets the scene for the second leg of the semifinal, which will take place at Atletico's Metropolitano Stadium on April 2 at 3:30 p.m. ET. With everything still to play for, the excitement surrounding this matchup is only set to intensify.
The encounter tested the skills of both teams. Barcelona's early defensive lapses need to be addressed before their next encounter, with Szczęsny's performance not entirely faultless. Meanwhile, Atletico coach Diego Simeone, having gained momentum from this gripping draw, will be strategizing how to capitalize at home.
Both teams displayed resilience and attacking prowess, showcasing their strengths through tactical plays and star players stepping up. Notably, Pedri and Raphinha were instrumental for Barcelona, with the Brazilian contributing two assists. For Atletico, Álvarez and Griezmann proved their mettle early on, and Sørloth's late goal secured their hopes for the second leg.
Now, the Copa del Rey semifinals will continue, and fans can anticipate yet another electrifying matchup as Barcelona prepares to travel to Madrid for the decisive return leg. With stakes higher than ever, supporters from both sides will eagerly await to see which team advances to the finals.