In a breathtaking encounter at the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys in Barcelona, the first leg of the Copa del Rey semifinal between Barcelona and Atletico Madrid ended in a dramatic 4-4 draw on Tuesday night. The match was a rollercoaster of emotions, featuring eight goals, stunning comebacks, and a last-gasp equalizer that left fans on the edge of their seats.
Early Fireworks from Atletico Madrid
Atletico Madrid came out of the gates with blistering intensity, stunning the home crowd with two quick goals in the opening minutes. Julian Alvarez opened the scoring in the first minute, capitalizing on a corner kick from Antoine Griezmann that deflected off Clement Lenglet. Just five minutes later, Griezmann doubled the lead, finishing coolly in a one-on-one situation against Barcelona goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny.
Barcelona’s Spirited Comeback
Despite the early setback, Barcelona showed resilience and began clawing their way back into the game. Pedri ignited the comeback in the 19th minute, slotting home a precise pass from Jules Kounde. Two minutes later, 17-year-old Pau Cubarsi leveled the score with a header from a Lamine Yamal corner, sending the home fans into raptures.
Barcelona completed their first-half turnaround in the 41st minute when Inigo Martinez rose highest to meet Raphinha’s corner, powering a header past Atletico goalkeeper Musso. The Catalans went into halftime with a 3-2 lead, having scored three unanswered goals in a scintillating display of attacking football.
Second-Half Drama
The second half continued to deliver fireworks. Barcelona extended their lead in the 74th minute when Robert Lewandowski, who had come on as a substitute, tapped in a cross from Yamal to make it 4-2. However, Atletico Madrid refused to go down without a fight.
Marcos Llorente reignited Atletico’s hopes in the 84th minute, finishing off a well-worked move involving Alvarez and Angel Correa. The visitors then completed their comeback in stoppage time, as substitute Alexander Sorloth struck a dramatic equalizer in the 93rd minute. Sorloth’s goal sent the Atletico bench into wild celebrations, with manager Diego Simeone visibly animated on the sidelines.
Key Moments and Performances
The match was a showcase of individual brilliance and tactical battles. Raphinha was instrumental for Barcelona, providing two assists and constantly threatening down the flanks. Yamal, the young sensation, also impressed with his creativity and composure. For Atletico, Griezmann and Alvarez were pivotal in the early stages, while Sorloth’s late heroics ensured the visitors left with a valuable draw.
Barcelona dominated possession throughout the game, but Atletico’s clinical counter-attacks and relentless pressing kept them in the contest. Both teams had chances to win the game, with Lewandowski and Correa coming close in the closing stages.
What’s Next?
The result leaves the tie finely poised ahead of the second leg at the Metropolitano Stadium in Madrid. With the aggregate score level at 4-4, the semifinal remains wide open, and both teams will fancy their chances of progressing to the final.
Barcelona will rue their inability to hold onto their lead, while Atletico Madrid will take heart from their fighting spirit and ability to snatch a draw from the jaws of defeat. Fans can expect another thrilling encounter when these two giants meet again in what promises to be a decisive second leg.
Final Score: Barcelona 4-4 Atletico Madrid
Goalscorers:
Barcelona: Pedri (19’), Cubarsi (21’), Martinez (41’), Lewandowski (74’)
Atletico Madrid: Alvarez (1’), Griezmann (6’), Llorente (84’), Sorloth (90+3’)
The stage is set for an epic conclusion to this Copa del Rey semifinal. Football fans around the world will be eagerly awaiting the second leg, where one of these titans will secure their place in the final.
