FC Barcelona vs Atlético Madrid played to a jaw-dropping 4-4 draw in the first leg of the Copa del Rey semifinals at Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys on this day in 2025. Each team came back from two-goal deficits in a gritty effort that left their cup hopes intact.
First Half: Barcelona vs Atlético Madrid
The game started with lots of pace and it didn’t take long for the goals to start flowing. Atlético Madrid opened the scoring, with Julián Álvarez also scoring early to punish a defensive mistake from Barcelona. The visitors’ lead, though, proved temporary. Barcelona immediately replied: Pedri reconstructed an outstanding team move, to equalise.
As the half went on, Barça started to pile on the possession, and their patience was rewarded when Gavi sent in a pinpoint cross that Robert Lewandowski headed in to give the hosts a 2-1 lead. When Raphinha curled a shot past Jan Oblak from the edge of the box to stretch it to 3-1, it felt over.
Atlético’s grievance was with the buildup to Barcelona’s third goal, in which they claimed the referee should have penalized a foul on Marcos Llorente. Their pleas were for naught as the referee, after a VAR review, confirmed the goal, ramping up the tension of a match whose atmosphere had already begun to spill over. It was no less than Atlético deserved after their resilience was repaid just before the halftime whistle, which saw Antoine Griezmann score to make it 3-2 going into the break in Barcelona’s favor.
Second Half: Barcelona vs Atlético Madrid
Simeone used all his substitutions within the last 20 minutes of the match, replacing Javier Manquillo with Alexander Sørloth to aid the attack. The decision paid off came when Sørloth — widely known as ‘Barcelona’s nemesis’ — haunted the Catalonians again, this time turning in an impressive header to tie matters 3-3.
Barcelona, undaunted, pushed on. That persistence paid off when Frenkie de Jong played a delicious ball through to Ferran Torres, who took his time and slotted a tidy finish past Oblak to once again give Barcelona its lead, 4–3.
Barcelona was hounded by defensive frailties as the match neared its end. With just seconds remaining, a backline miscommunication presented another chance and Sørloth was again on hand to make it count as he netted his second and earned a dramatic 4-4 result for Atlético.
Post-Match Reactions
In the immediate aftermath of the match, it was Barcelona’s manager, Hansi Flick, who found himself with many questions to answer, especially about the ways his side gave up four goals. He said there was a need to show greater focus and discipline, not least because the team has an older and younger mix. Flick recognized the attacking potential shown but insisted that defensive steadiness is crucial in such top-level games.
In contrast, Diego Simeone praised his team as fighting through and showing they never give up. Other factors included the responsiveness of SON’s substitutes, including Sørloth’s at the decisive stage, which gives them confidence in the return leg of Wanda Metropolitano.
Looking Ahead
The 4-4 draw sets up a tantalizing second leg, with both teams recognizing that defensive improvements are key. Barcelona will have to tighten up that leaky defense and Atlético will want to take advantage of its field advantage. Expect another spicy encounter as these two Spanish titans fight for a chance to compete in the Copa del Rey final.
