The 2025 Spanish Football Cup reaches its climax with the much-anticipated semifinals this week, featuring two intense matchups: FC Barcelona facing Atlético de Madrid and Real Sociedad squaring off against Real Madrid.
First up, on Tuesday, February 25, FC Barcelona will host Atlético de Madrid at the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys, marking the first leg of the semifinal. Both teams come to this fixture with contrasting momentum. Barcelona, led by coach Hansi Flick, is currently on a remarkable unbeaten run of over two months, with seven wins and three draws since their last competitive encounter with Atlético, which ended 0-1 against them back on December 21, 2024. With aspirations to win multiple titles this season, Barcelona is focused on maintaining their strong form.
Meanwhile, Atlético de Madrid, under Diego Simeone, enters the clash with their own streak of results: seven matches without defeat, though they have recently struggled, securing only one win from their last four league matches, which has hampered their title ambitions. Despite these challenges, Atlético has shown resilience in cup competitions and is eager for victory at Barcelona to gain momentum for the return leg.
Looking at the possible lineups, injuries could play key roles for both teams. For Barcelona, the starting lineup would likely feature goalkeeper Wojciech Szczęsny, with defenders Jules Koundé, Ronald Araujo, Iñigo Martínez, and Alejandro Balde. The midfield could see Frenkie de Jong, Gavi, and Pedri, complemented by attackers Robert Lewandowski and possibly Ferran Torres, who leads the Copa del Rey scoring with four goals. Lamine Yamal's participation remains uncertain after he sustained a foot injury.
On the other side, Atlético's lineup is set to include goalkeeper Juan Musso and defenders Marcos Llorente, José María Giménez, Léo Le Normand, and Carlos Galán. The midfield will likely involve Giuliano Simeone, Rodrigo De Paul, and Pablo Barrios, with Antoine Griezmann and Julián Álvarez spearheading their attack. Notably, Atlético will have to adjust due to key absences, such as Koke and César Azpilicueta, pushing for tactical changes as they step onto enemy ground.
This high-stakes semifinal will commence at 21:30 CET, and fans can watch it live on La 1 and RTVE Play, with regional broadcasts from TV3 and additional coverage on Movistar Plus+ and Orange TV. With both clubs aiming for glory, this matchup promises to be fiercely contested, setting the stage for what could be one of the most memorable encounters of the tournament.
The following day, Wednesday, February 26, sees Real Sociedad welcoming Real Madrid to the Reale Arena for another gripping semifinal affair. Kickoff is also at 21:30 CET. This matchup stirs memories of their previous encounter in the Copa del Rey quarterfinals back in 2020, where Real Sociedad shocked Real Madrid with a thrilling 4-3 victory at the Santiago Bernabéu.
The current form favors Real Sociedad, who boasts five consecutive home victories, making their home ground a fortress. Coach Imanol Alguacil will, unfortunately, contend with several injury issues, including the absences of Luka Sucic, Traoré, and Pacheco, as well as recent setbacks for Nayef Aguerd and Arsen Zakharyan. Despite these challenges, Real Sociedad aims to capitalize on their home advantage to establish the upper hand before traveling to Madrid for the second leg.
On the other hand, Carlo Ancelotti's Real Madrid arrives with renewed confidence, riding the momentum of recent league triumphs and their significant win against Manchester City in the Champions League. Yet, Ancelotti is likely to implement squad rotations to manage player fatigue, potentially seeing Andriy Lunin make his return behind the sticks and other adjustments among the starting XI.
This clash not only sets the stage for both teams to vie for the title but also serves as another chapter in their storied rivalry. The game will be broadcast on La 1 and available to stream via RTVE Play, drawing substantial viewership.
Both semifinals are poised to be thrilling encounters, with two coveted spots in the final up for grabs and histories intertwined with past triumphs. The footballing world is eagerly anticipating these clashes as FC Barcelona, Atlético de Madrid, Real Sociedad, and Real Madrid push toward what promises to be another spectacular climax to the Spanish Football Cup.