Home COPA DEY REY FOOTBALL SPORTS Barcelona Crushed by Atletico's Clinical Display

Barcelona Crushed by Atletico's Clinical Display

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Atletico Madrid Vs Barcelona
Atletico Madrid handed Barcelona a 4-0 thrashing in the Copa del Rey semi-final first leg

Barca's struggles continued as they failed to handle Atletico's intensity, managing only 14 shots in the game. A well-prepared Atletico Madrid dominated possession and countered with precision, securing a commanding lead ahead of the return leg.


Atletico Madrid's midfield and attack were on fire, completely outclassing Barcelona's defense...


Atletico Madrid stunned Barcelona with a 4-0 thrashing in the Copa del Rey semi-final first leg, thanks to an astonishing performance at the Metropolitano. The hosts took the lead in the sixth minute after Eric Garcia's back pass slipped under goalkeeper Joan Garcia's boot, and things only got worse for Barca.


Antoine Griezmann doubled the lead eight minutes later, and Ademola Lookman added a third in the 33rd minute. Julian Alvarez sealed the deal with a fourth goal in stoppage time, leaving Barca with a mountain to climb in the return leg. The Catalans had dominated recent meetings, winning eight of the last 10 head-to-head matches, but Atletico's clinical counter-attacks proved too much.


Barcelona was riding high before their match against Atletico Madrid, with an impressive record of winning eight of their last nine away games, including 11 of their last 12 Copa del Rey away games. Hansi Flick's unbeaten streak in Spanish cup ties continued, adding to the team's confidence. On the other hand, Atletico Madrid had struggled, winning only four of their 10 games in 2026, with three draws and three losses.


Atletico Madrid's struggles were evident, having lost 4-0 to Barcelona in the first leg, making it a tough road ahead for the Catalans. However, Barcelona still has a chance to turn things around, needing to win by at least five goals to progress to the final.


Atletico Madrid had a surprising advantage going into the match, with a strong record on Thursday nights - they've won nine of their previous 12 matches played on that day. Despite Barcelona's impressive away form, Atletico's momentum and home advantage had them looking confident.


Barca's slightly weakened lineup, missing key players like Pedri, Raphinha, and Marcus Rashford, struggled to cope with Atletico's intensity. Giuliano Simeone's early chance set the tone, and it was clear the hosts were hungry for a win.


Joan Garcia's mistake gifted Atletico Madrid an early lead. The young goalkeeper's error allowed Eric Garcia's back pass to trickle over the line, giving Atleti an own goal in just the sixth minute. This set the tone for a disastrous night for Barca.


Atletico Madrid capitalized on the momentum, having a strong record when scoring first in Copa del Rey matches. They'd avoided defeat in their last 10 such games, with the last loss being a 3-1 defeat to Real Madrid in January 2023.


Atletico Madrid's midfield and attack were on fire, completely outclassing Barcelona's defense. The intensity was palpable, and it was only a matter of time before they scored again. And come again they did, with Antoine Griezmann doubling the lead against his old side in just 14 minutes.


The hosts had total control, with Barca's defense struggling to cope. It was a clinical display from Atletico, and Barcelona were lucky to be only 2-0 down at that point. The game was slipping away from them fast.


Alejandro Balde's struggles
continued as he had a nightmare start to the game. He failed to attempt or win a single tackle, and his passing in the final third was lackluster, with an 80% success rate, the lowest among Barca's starters, excluding Ferran Torres and Lamine Yamal.


Despite looking active, Balde's play lacked purpose, and he was eventually substituted later in the match. It was a disappointing performance from the young defender, who struggled to make an impact on the game.


Barcelona's possession wasn't translating to much, with 70% of the ball in the opening 15 minutes, but little to show for it. Meanwhile, Atletico Madrid continued to threaten, with Julian Alvarez having a shot cleared off the line. It was clear the hosts were waiting for their chance to strike.




Ademola Lookman ended the game as a contest with a third goal, exploiting Balde's side of the pitch once again. It was a crushing blow for Barca, who were struggling to cope with Atletico's pressure. The game was slipping further away from them with each passing minute.



Atletico Madrid's Dominant Display

Atletico Madrid handed Barcelona a 4-0 thrashing in the Copa del Rey semi-final first leg, with four goals coming in the first 45 minutes. Julian Alvarez scored in first-half stoppage time, ending an 11-match goal drought. This was Barcelona's third time failing to score in the first half this season, raising concerns for Hansi Flick's team.



Barcelona's Defensive Struggles

Barcelona's struggles were evident, with their high defensive line being exposed by Atletico's clinical transitions. Eric Garcia's early own goal set the tone, and Antoine Griezmann's strike doubled the lead. Ademola Lookman's finish made it 3-0, and Alvarez's fourth goal sealed the win. Barcelona will need a strong performance in the return leg at Camp Nou to turn the tie around.






Barcelona came out strong in the second half, with Fermin Lopez going close twice, and Pau Cubarsi seemed to have given them a lifeline with a goal. But it was short-lived, as VAR intervened after an eight-minute delay and overturned the goal.


That decision was a turning point, and Barcelona's chances of winning the game effectively ended there. Atletico Madrid held on, and the score remained 3-0, leaving Barca with a mountain to climb in the return leg.



Barcelona Struggles to Contain Atletico's Intensity

Barcelona's inability to handle Atletico Madrid's intensity was evident, with only Lamine Yamal and Fermin Lopez showing any real battling qualities. Yamal won 13 of his 21 one-on-one duels, while Lopez won six of his 11 attempts, but it wasn't enough to trouble Atletico's defense.


Atletico's Dominance Exposed Barca's Weaknesses

Atletico's midfield and defense, led by Koke, David Hancko, Ademola Lookman, and Marcos Llorente, worked tirelessly to stifle Barca's natural game, leaving them no match for the hosts' intensity and tactical discipline 


Atletico Madrid's passing was shaky, especially compared to Barcelona's 81% completion rate in the second half. Yet, they were sharper when it mattered, more physical, and never looked likely to give up their lead. It was a testament to their strength and resilience.


The hosts' defense held firm, and they continued to threaten on the counter. Despite Barcelona's possession, Atletico's tactics paid off, and they secured a commanding 3-0 lead heading into the return leg.




Eric Garcia's sending off late in the game was the final blow for Barcelona, earning a red card for a professional foul. He'll miss the second leg, adding to Barca's woes. This was their first red in the Spanish Cup since 2017, against the same opponents, Atletico Madrid.


Barca's 14 shots were their lowest total in this season's competition, a clear indication of how effectively Atletico's tactics worked. The visitors were harnessed by a well-prepared Atletico, who defended resolutely and countered with precision.

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