Barcelona vs. Atlético Madrid: Copa del Rey Semifinal

Barcelona vs. Atlético Madrid: Copa del Rey Semifinal

Match Overview

The second leg of the Copa del Rey semifinal between Barcelona and Atlético Madrid is set to take place on April 2, 2025, at the Metropolitano Stadium in Madrid.

The match kicks off at 9:30 PM local time (21:30 CET). The first leg ended in a thrilling 4-4 draw, with both teams mounting remarkable comebacks from two-goal deficits.

The winner of this match will face Real Madrid in the final on April 26 at the Estadio de La Cartuja in Sevilla. Barcelona enters the game with an impressive unbeaten streak of 20 matches across all competitions, while Atlético Madrid looks to break a losing streak against Barcelona at home.

The match will be broadcast live on La 1 TVE in Spain, with additional coverage available through Radio MARCA and MARCA.com.

Expected Lineups

Both teams have prepared strong lineups for this crucial encounter. For Atlético Madrid, Juan Musso will start in goal, with Marcos Llorente, José María Giménez, Clément Lenglet, and César Azpilicueta forming the defensive line.

The midfield will consist of Pablo Barrios, Rodrigo De Paul, Nahuel Barrios, and Samuel Lino, while Antoine Griezmann and Julián Álvarez will lead the attack.

Barcelona’s lineup includes Wojciech Szczęsny as the goalkeeper, with Jules Koundé, Pau Cubarsí, Iñigo Martínez, and Alejandro Balde in defense.

Frenkie de Jong and Pedri will control the midfield, while Lamine Yamal, Gavi, and Raphinha support striker Robert Lewandowski in attack.

These lineups reflect the tactical decisions of coaches Diego Simeone and Hansi Flick.

Head-to-Head Record and Recent Meetings

Barcelona and Atlético Madrid have faced each other 245 times across all competitions as of April 2025. Barcelona has won 111 matches, Atlético Madrid has secured 77 victories, and 57 encounters have ended in draws.

Barcelona has historically dominated this fixture, scoring 464 goals compared to Atlético’s 356. In the last 20 meetings, Barcelona has won 12 times, Atlético Madrid has emerged victorious in four matches, and four games have ended in draws.

Recent results include Barcelona’s 4-2 victory in La Liga on March 16, 2025, the thrilling 4-4 draw in the first leg of the Copa del Rey semifinal on February 25, 2025, and Atlético Madrid’s 2-1 win in La Liga on December 21, 2024.

Historical Highlights of the Rivalry

The Barcelona vs. Atlético Madrid rivalry dates back to 1925 during the Copa del Rey. Over the years, the teams have produced many iconic encounters.

In the 1993 La Liga season, Atlético staged a stunning comeback after trailing 3-0 to Johan Cruyff’s Barcelona, winning 4-3 in one of their most dramatic victories.

The 1996 Copa del Rey quarterfinal saw Barcelona triumph 7-6 on aggregate after a remarkable comeback led by Ronaldo and Luis Figo.

In 2014, Atlético Madrid clinched the La Liga title with a 1-1 draw at Camp Nou, ending Barcelona’s dominance. That same year, Atlético defeated Barcelona 2-1 in the Copa del Rey final, their first such triumph since 1963. In the 2016 UEFA Champions League quarterfinal, Atlético eliminated Barcelona with a 2-0 home victory after losing the first leg 2-1.

Legendary Individual Performances

Several legendary performances have defined this rivalry. In the 1990s, Bulgarian forward Hristo Stoichkov delivered a hat-trick as Barcelona defeated Atlético Madrid 4-1 at Vicente Calderón.

Another unforgettable moment came in 1998 when Rivaldo scored a stunning goal for Barcelona in Radomir Antić’s farewell match as Atlético coach, though Atlético ultimately secured a 5-2 victory.

These performances highlight the skill and intensity that have characterized meetings between these two Spanish giants.

With both teams aiming for a spot in the Copa del Rey final, this semifinal promises another thrilling chapter in their long-standing rivalry.

Barcelona’s recent dominance and unbeaten streak make them favorites, but Atlético Madrid has proven time and again that they can rise to the occasion.

The Metropolitano Stadium is set to witness another dramatic showdown as both sides battle for a place in the final against Real Madrid. Football fans can expect a high-intensity clash filled with tactical brilliance, individual brilliance, and possibly another historic moment in this storied rivalry.

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