Barcelona secured their place in the Copa del Rey final after edging past Atletico Madrid on aggregate in a closely contested semi-final. The Catalan giants will now face their fierce rivals, Real Madrid, in Seville on 26 April, marking the eighth El Clasico final in the competition’s history.
The decisive moment in the second leg came when Ferran Torres capitalized on a well-placed pass from Lamine Yamal to guide the ball beyond Argentine shot-stopper Juan Musso. The visitors had been the more dominant side, with 17-year-old Yamal proving a constant attacking threat. Raphinha also came close to doubling the advantage on two occasions, but Atletico managed to keep the deficit to a single goal on the night.
Atletico falls short despite chances
Unlike the electrifying first-leg encounter, which ended in a dramatic 4-4 draw thanks to Atletico’s late goals, the return fixture was a more tense and measured contest. Diego Simeone’s men had their chances, but they failed to capitalize when it mattered most.
Alexander Sorloth, who came off the bench, opted to shoot instead of squaring the ball for Antoine Griezmann, missing a golden opportunity for an equalizer. The Norwegian forward later found the net but saw his effort ruled out for offside. Despite these opportunities, the home side struggled to break down a well-organized Barcelona defense.
Hansi Flick’s team looked composed throughout and never seemed in serious danger. With the victory, Barcelona extended their unbeaten streak to 21 matches in all competitions, cementing their status as the only team in Europe’s top-five leagues yet to suffer a defeat in 2025.
Barca’s quadruple ambitions stay alive
Having already secured the Spanish Super Cup this season, Barcelona remains in contention for multiple trophies. They currently lead La Liga by three points ahead of Real Madrid, keeping their domestic title hopes alive.
Their European campaign continues as well, with a Champions League quarter-final first-leg tie against Borussia Dortmund set for 9 April. The upcoming Copa del Rey final against Carlo Ancelotti’s Real Madrid comes at a crucial time, just weeks before a decisive league meeting between the two Spanish powerhouses.
With momentum on their side, Barcelona is pushing towards a historic campaign, but significant challenges remain as they chase silverware on multiple fronts.
About the author: Paul Yarden
Paul Yarden founded MyFootballFacts (MFF) in April 2009, after decades of collecting football data and statistics. A devout football fan, Paul follows the beautiful game around the world. As MFF’s main statistician and chief editor, he creates data reviews, daily football quizzes, and writes numerous articles. Renowned for his ability to spot trends, Paul is often described as a walking…