Thriller at Montjuïc: Barcelona and Atletico Madrid Play Out Epic 4-4 Draw

The first leg of the Copa del Rey semi-final between Barcelona and Atletico Madrid delivered an instant classic, as both sides produced breathtaking comebacks to finish level at 4-4. In a game full of drama, momentum swings, and outstanding individual performances, the tie remains wide open ahead of the second leg at the Metropolitano on April 2nd.

Early Atletico Blitz Stuns Barcelona

Atletico wasted no time making their mark, silencing the Montjuïc crowd with a goal in under a minute. Antoine Griezmann’s cross took a fortunate deflection off Clément Lenglet, falling perfectly for Rodrigo De Paul to slot home at the near post just 49 seconds in. The visitors doubled their lead in the sixth minute, with Griezmann bundling in a scrappy effort to put Diego Simeone’s men in a commanding position.

Barcelona’s Stunning First-Half Comeback

Despite the early setback, Barcelona responded in style. Pedri kick-started the comeback in the 19th minute, finishing off a well-worked move to bring his side back into the contest. Raphinha then turned provider, delivering two pinpoint corner kicks that led to goals. Pau Cubarsí rose unmarked at the far post to level the score, before Iñigo Martínez completed the turnaround on the stroke of halftime, sending Barcelona into the break with a remarkable 3-2 lead.

Late Chaos Ensues After Atleti’s Defensive Shift

Atletico appeared to be retreating into a defensive shell after the break, with Simeone making substitutions that suggested a more conservative approach. However, Barcelona kept pressing forward and extended their lead in the 74th minute. Lamine Yamal showcased his dazzling footwork before setting up Robert Lewandowski, who coolly slotted home to make it 4-2.

Just when it seemed Barcelona had full control, Atletico produced a comeback of their own. Ángel Correa’s hopeful pass in the 83rd minute found Marcos Llorente, who struck a thunderous first-time effort past Marc-André ter Stegen. The final twist came deep into stoppage time, when Samuel Lino’s powerful run into the box set up Alexander Sørloth, who finished from close range to complete the astonishing 4-4 scoreline.

All to Play for in the Second Leg

Barcelona created the better chances throughout the match, reflected in their impressive expected goals (xG) of 3.59, while Atletico significantly overperformed their xG of 1.51. Despite this, both teams showed incredible fighting spirit, setting up an unmissable second leg in Madrid on April 2nd.

With neither side holding an advantage, the return leg at the Metropolitano promises to be another high-stakes showdown as Barcelona and Atletico battle for a place in the Copa del Rey final.