Atletico demolish Barcelona with four-goal first-half masterclass in copa del rey semi-final

Atletico Madrid delivered a breathtaking first-half performance to dismantle La Liga leaders Barcelona in the opening leg of their Copa del Rey semi-final tie, Sport360NG reports.

Diego Simeone’s side struck four times before the interval in a ruthless display at the Metropolitano, seizing control of the contest and placing themselves firmly in command ahead of the return leg.

The fixture marked the second consecutive season the two Spanish heavyweights have collided at this stage of the competition. Barcelona prevailed last year on their way to claiming a record-extending 32nd Copa del Rey title, but this time it was Atletico who made a powerful statement.

Early Error Sets the Tone

The hosts were gifted an early advantage when Eric Garcia’s attempted backpass to Joan Garcia went disastrously wrong. The ball slipped under the goalkeeper’s foot and rolled into the net, setting the tone for a punishing evening for the visitors.

Atletico doubled their lead in the 14th minute through Antoine Griezmann, the tournament’s leading scorer this season. The French forward punished his former club with a precise, curling finish that left Barcelona reeling.

Barcelona struggled to recover as Atletico surged forward with confidence and intensity. Although Fermin Lopez rattled the woodwork in one of the visitors’ few meaningful openings of the half, it proved a rare moment of encouragement.

Alvarez and Lookman Pile on the Pressure

The third goal arrived in the 33rd minute following a slick move down the right. Giuliano Simeone surged forward before feeding Julian Alvarez, who cleverly squared for Ademola Lookman to fire home his second goal in as many appearances for his new club.

Alvarez then ended an 11-match, two-month scoring drought in emphatic fashion during first-half stoppage time. The Argentine unleashed a powerful long-range effort that flew beyond the goalkeeper, capping a remarkable opening 45 minutes for the home side.

VAR Drama Adds to Barcelona Frustration

Barcelona believed they had pulled a goal back in the second half when Pau Cubarsi turned in from close range after being set up by Robert Lewandowski. However, the celebrations were cut short by a lengthy video assistant referee review.

The check lasted eight minutes, matching the longest VAR review on record, previously set during Bournemouth’s FA Cup fifth-round win over Wolves last season, before the goal was ruled out for offside. The delay was so prolonged that substitute goalkeepers were handed footballs to keep warm on the touchline.

The visitors’ night deteriorated further in the closing stages when Eric Garcia was shown a red card after a VAR review determined he had fouled Alex Baena as the substitute broke clear toward goal.

Mountain to Climb for Barcelona

The heavy defeat leaves Barcelona facing a daunting task in the return leg on 3 March. Atletico, 10-time winners of the competition, now hold a commanding advantage as they seek a place in the final.

For Simeone’s men, this was not only revenge for last season’s semi-final disappointment but also a resounding reminder of their attacking firepower on the domestic stage.