Barcelona travelled to the Metropolitano on Thursday night without Marcus Rashford, Raphinha and Pedri. For manager Hansi Flick, that meant fewer quality options before the game even began.
Atletico Madrid had history on their side. They had won 9 of their last 12 matches played on a Thursday.
Still, there were reasons for Barcelona to feel hopeful. Atletico Madrid had won only 4 of their 10 games in all competitions in 2026.
Barcelona, meanwhile, had won eight of their last nine away games. In the Copa del Rey, they had taken 11 wins from their last 12 matches on the road.
Their record against Diego Simeone’s side was also strong. Barcelona had won 8 of the last 10 meetings. They had not lost in their last eight Copa del Rey ties against Atleti, with six wins and two draws.
None of that mattered once the game began. Here are some talking points from the first leg.
Complete lack of intensity is unforgivable
Not every game can be won. Even the best teams in history lost matches. But when a team loses, the least supporters expect is full effort. Players should put their bodies on the line. They should give everything so that, even in defeat, they can say they were beaten by a better side.
In the first half at the Metropolitano, only one team showed that level of commitment.
Atletico were first to every ball. They were first to most second balls. Their attacking play was sharper. Their passing was cleaner. Every challenge was full of intensity. Barcelona could not match them.
Balde had a nightmare
It must be said first that the whole team played poorly. But one player stood out for the wrong reasons.
Alejandro Balde has had good moments at Barcelona. But his poor games now outnumber the good ones. As a full-back who likes to push forward, his crossing is not good enough. He spends so much energy going forward that he is often out of position when the ball is lost.
Against weaker sides, he gets away with it. Against stronger teams, he is exposed. On Thursday, it was difficult to watch.
Every time Atletico got in behind the Barcelona defence, it was down Balde’s side. At one point, Giuliano Simeone was given a two-yard head start. Balde still could not beat him to the ball.
It raises a simple question. Does Barcelona have no other option apart from Gerard Martin? Even if only to give Balde a reminder that his place is not safe.
RFEF are a joke
Spanish football needs to take a long look at itself. Between the RFEF and La Liga, there are serious questions to answer if the league wants to be taken seriously.
An eight-minute VAR delay led to an offside decision that made little sense. Two fouls by Simeone on Balde should have been reviewed for possible red cards. The officials, both on the pitch and in the VAR room, did not act. Many other decisions throughout the night were also hard to understand.
In a cup semi-final, both teams must be at their best. The same must be true for those in charge of the game. On Thursday, they were poor in almost every way.