Atletico Madrid will face Barcelona in the second leg of the Copa del Rey semifinal on Wednesday. Don’t miss a moment on Wednesday when action at the Metropolitano Stadium in Madrid, Spain, gets underway! The match kicks off at 9:30 PM local time (19:30 GMT). The first leg concluded in an exciting 4-4 draw. Now it’s up to both teams, ambitious to join each other in that final on April 26th.
For Barcelona, the challenge just got that much tougher as they will be without their best player – Dani Olmo. Through injury, he’ll likely miss the match until late April. Despite this disappointment, Coach Hansi Flick is still hopeful for his team’s prospects. He remained clear-eyed on the need to stay focused. He pointed to their achievement of winning the Spanish Super Cup against eternal rivals Real Madrid in January as an example.
Recent Encounters
In their last meeting on March 16, 2025, Barcelona triumphed over Atletico Madrid, continuing a trend where they have won three of their last four encounters. Atletico Madrid has not been devoid of its successes, downing Barcelona once in that time. The final heavyweight match of the year at Seattle, it shapes up to be an intense matchup as both teams look to re-establish superiority.
In the away first leg, Atletico Madrid jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first six minutes. Unfortunately, the most damning blow would come next as they allowed four straight goals. Yet they fought back and two goals in the final ten minutes saw them equalize. Alexander Sorloth provided the heartbreaking equalizer just three minutes into second-half stoppage time.
Only time will tell, but one thing is for certain, with five goals, Alvarez is the Copa del Rey’s top scorer this season. His mobility and balance on the ball will be key for Barca as they look to work the ball behind Atletico’s disciplined back line.
Coaches’ Perspectives
Sporting boss Hansi Flick said he was “unsurprised” by his team’s fortitude in Olmo’s absence. He recognized their success in the season so far. Now, they’ve got their eyes set squarely on making it to the Cup final.
“We won the Spanish Super Cup [against Real Madrid in January], but it’s in the past. We want to reach the Cup final, but it won’t be easy,” – Hansi Flick, Barcelona
Atletico Madrid’s coach Diego Simeone, when recently asked about his side’s development over the course of the season, pointed to exactly that. As he underlined their competitive spirit, despite his disappointment with their recent outings.
“The team has improved and I have told them that. I am grateful for what they are doing. But this is football, so what counts are the titles.” – Hansi Flick, Barcelona
Simeone was equally respectful of Barca’s attacking brand and the danger it poses.
“They [Barcelona] are going to have goal situations; they play in a very brave way and we have to try to go through the best moments of the game and isolate them from that potential,” – Diego Simeone, Atletico Madrid
What Lies Ahead
Both teams are on the offensive as they prepare for this make-or-break clash. SuperFans will get to experience one of the most intense competitions filled with tactics and urgency! The stakes are high for Atletico Madrid, who last won the Copa del Rey in 2013.
Neither side needs any extra motivation. Both teams are fiercely proud and hungry to get to the final. This semifinal matchup guarantees a thrilling battle that may very well make or break their seasons!
