Copa del Rey – Atletico Madrid delivered one of the most commanding performances of the season on Friday night, overwhelming reigning Copa del Rey champions and La Liga leaders Barcelona 4-0 in the first leg of their semifinal tie. The emphatic result places Diego Simeone’s side firmly in control ahead of the return fixture at Camp Nou on March 3.

Atletico Dominate Early with Relentless Pressure

From the opening whistle, Atletico set a fierce tempo that Barcelona struggled to match. The hosts pressed aggressively and repeatedly targeted the visitors’ high defensive line, exposing gaps with swift counterattacks and precise wing play.

An early warning arrived in just the second minute when Antoine Griezmann forced a sharp save from goalkeeper Joan Garcia. Moments later, Atletico seized the advantage in unusual fashion. A misplaced back pass from Eric Garcia caught Joan Garcia off guard, and his heavy touch allowed the ball to slip beneath his foot and into the net, handing the home side a gift-wrapped opener.

The pressure did not ease. Atletico’s right flank proved particularly effective, with Nahuel Molina and Giuliano Simeone combining to unsettle Barcelona’s defense. In the 15th minute, their persistence paid off again. Molina surged forward and found Griezmann, who calmly fired a left-footed shot across goal to double the lead.

Barcelona Struggle Without Key Players

Barcelona entered the contest without injured attackers Raphinha and Marcus Rashford, prompting coach Hansi Flick to deploy Dani Olmo alongside Fermin Lopez in advanced midfield roles. Despite flashes of intent, the visitors lacked cohesion in the final third and found it difficult to break through Atletico’s disciplined structure.

Julian Alvarez nearly extended Atletico’s lead soon after the second goal, but Jules Kounde managed a crucial block with the goalkeeper already beaten. Still, the reprieve proved temporary.

In the 33rd minute, another swift move involving Molina and Giuliano Simeone created space for Alvarez, whose deft touch set up Ademola Lookman. The forward made no mistake, calmly slotting home to make it 3-0 and further silence the traveling supporters.

Alvarez Caps First-Half Masterclass

Sensing the urgency of the situation, Flick introduced Robert Lewandowski before halftime in an attempt to spark a response. Lopez tested Atletico goalkeeper Juan Musso shortly afterward, but Barcelona’s defensive vulnerabilities remained evident.

Just before the break, Atletico struck once more. A rapid counterattack caught Barcelona exposed, and Alvarez finished emphatically to secure a fourth goal, capping a devastating first-half display.

VAR Drama and Red Card Add to Barcelona’s Woes

Barcelona emerged after the interval with renewed energy and briefly pinned Atletico back. Lopez again forced Musso into action, and Pau Cubarsi thought he had pulled one back when he found the net. However, after a lengthy seven-minute VAR review, the goal was ruled out for offside.

As Barcelona committed more players forward in search of a breakthrough, Atletico retreated into a compact defensive shape, focusing on managing the tempo and protecting their commanding lead.

The visitors’ task became even more difficult when Eric Garcia was shown a red card for bringing down Alex Baena as the last defender. Reduced to ten men, Barcelona’s hopes of staging a comeback faded further.

Alexander Sorloth had an opportunity to increase the margin to 5-0 late in the match but failed to convert. Nonetheless, Atletico Madrid head into the second leg as strong favorites to secure a place in the Copa del Rey final.

In the competition’s other semifinal, Real Sociedad claimed a narrow 1-0 away victory over Athletic Bilbao, setting up another intriguing return leg next week.