Barcelona Battles Atlético Madrid in Copa del Rey Semifinal Second Leg
Barcelona faces a monumental task on Tuesday, March 3, 2026, as they host Atlético Madrid in the second leg of their Copa del Rey semifinal matchup. Trailing 4-0 on aggregate from the first leg, Barcelona aims to overcome a significant deficit and secure a place in the final.
The Uphill Battle for Barcelona
Atlético Madrid established a commanding lead in the first leg, winning 4-0 at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano. Goals from Eric García (an own goal), Antoine Griezmann, Ademola Lookman, and Julián Álvarez propelled Atlético to a dominant victory. Barcelona manager Hansi Flick acknowledged the difficulty of the situation, stating his team is hoping to “make the impossible possible.”1
Recent Form and Momentum
Despite the first-leg setback, Barcelona has shown signs of improvement with recent victories. They secured a 3-0 win over Levante and followed it up with a 4-1 triumph against Villarreal, building confidence ahead of the crucial second leg.2
Key Moments and Goals from the Second Leg
The second leg, played at Spotify Camp Nou, saw Barcelona fight valiantly. Marc Bernal scored twice (29′, 72′) and Raphinha added a penalty (45+3′) for Barcelona. However, these goals were not enough to overturn the first-leg deficit. The final score was 3-0 to Barcelona.1
Lineups
Barcelona Starting XI: J. Garcia (GK), Cancelo, Cubarsi, Martin, Kounde, Bernal, Pedri, Lamine, F. Lopez, Raphinha, F. Torres. Substitutions included Balde, Araujo, Olmo, and Rashford.1
Atlético Madrid Starting XI: Musso (GK), Llorente, Pubill, Hancko, Ruggeri, Simeone, Cardoso, Koke, Lookman, Griezmann, Alvarez. Substitutions included Gimenez, Molina, and Sorloth.1
Match Details
Location: Spotify Camp Nou (Barcelona, Spain)
Referee: Ricardo de Burgos Bengoetxea
Looking Ahead
Despite a spirited performance in the second leg, Barcelona was unable to complete the comeback. Atlético Madrid advances to the Copa del Rey final. Barcelona will need to regroup and focus on their upcoming fixtures.