In a nail-biting encounter on Tuesday evening, Barcelona and Atletico Madrid played out a sensational 4-4 draw in the first leg of the Copa del Rey semi-final at the Olympic Stadium in Montjuic. The match, filled with twists and turns, saw both teams squander leads and fight back valiantly, leaving the tie finely balanced ahead of the second leg.
Atletico Madrid stormed into an early lead with two quick goals. Argentine forward Julian Alvarez opened the scoring in the first minute, followed by a strike from French star Antoine Griezmann in the fifth minute. However, Barcelona responded swiftly with a stunning comeback. Midfielder Pedri Gonzalez pulled one back in the 19th minute, and young defender Pau Cubarsi equalized with a precise header from a corner in the 26th minute. Barcelona continued to dominate and took the lead in the 40th minute through another header, this time from Spanish defender Inigo Martinez, following a well-executed corner by Brazilian winger Raphinha.
The Catalan giants extended their lead in the 74th minute when Polish striker Robert Lewandowski, who came on as a substitute for Ferran Torres, found the back of the net. Torres, who had missed several clear chances earlier, was replaced as Barcelona looked to seal the game. However, Atletico Madrid, under the guidance of their Argentine manager Diego Simeone, staged a dramatic late comeback. Spanish midfielder Marcos Llorente reduced the deficit in the 84th minute, and Norwegian substitute Alexander Sorloth completed the fightback with a last-gasp equalizer in the third minute of stoppage time.
The result leaves the semi-final tie wide open, with everything to play for in the second leg. Simeone’s tactical changes proved crucial as Atletico avoided a second consecutive defeat against Barcelona this season. The two sides had previously met in La Liga’s 18th round, where Atletico secured a 2-1 victory thanks to a late goal. Fans will eagerly await the second leg to see which team will advance to the Copa del Rey final.
Thrilling 4-4 Draw Between Barcelona and Atletico Madrid in Copa del Rey Semi-Final First Leg
