FC Barcelona is set to host Atlético Madrid in the first leg of the Copa del Rey semi-final at the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys (Montjuïc) tonight.
After a hard-fought win over Las Palmas at the weekend, which helped them stay at the top of La Liga for at least another week, Barcelona now turns their attention to the Copa del Rey. This showdown is especially significant as they look to avenge a heartbreaking defeat to Atlético Madrid in their last encounter at the end of 2024. Despite dominating that game, Barça conceded a dramatic 96th-minute winner from Alexander Sorloth, which allowed Atlético to escape with a remarkable 1-0 win.
Atlético Madrid, on the other hand, enters this clash on an eight-match unbeaten streak across all competitions, including five wins and three draws. They also defeated Valencia 3-0 over the weekend, briefly topping the La Liga table before Barcelona’s victory over Las Palmas.
This marks Atlético Madrid’s second consecutive Copa del Rey semi-final appearance after a painful 4-0 defeat to Athletic Bilbao last season. For Barcelona, this is their second semi-final since winning the competition in the 2020/21 season, and they are eager to lift the trophy again.
This match is set to be a heavyweight battle full of intensity and physicality, with both teams aiming to set the tone for the tie. While Barcelona will hope to take a significant step toward the final with a strong home performance, the tie is likely to go down to the wire. With the first leg at Montjuïc, Barça will need to be cautious, avoid mistakes, and capitalize on the few chances Atlético will allow in order to secure a vital advantage heading into the second leg.