In a stunning display of dominance at the Metropolitano, Atletico Madrid delivered a crushing 4-0 defeat to the reigning champions, Barcelona, in the first leg of their Copa del Rey semi-final on Thursday. The result leaves the 32-time competition winners with a monumental task to overturn the deficit in the return fixture.
The match’s trajectory was set early when an unfortunate deflection from Barcelona defender Eric Garcia found its way into his own net, granting Diego Simeone’s side a precious lead. Capitalizing on the momentum, Atletico proceeded to dismantle their visitors with a ruthless first-half attacking blitz.
A First-Half Onslaught Seals the Tie
The home side’s offensive prowess was on full display as they extended their lead with remarkable efficiency. Antoine Griezmann, facing his former club, found the target, swiftly followed by goals from Ademola Lookman and Julian Alvarez. This rapid succession of strikes before the interval transformed a promising lead into what appears to be an insurmountable aggregate advantage.
Barcelona’s evening deteriorated further in the closing minutes as Eric Garcia received his marching orders, compounding the misery for Xavi’s squad. Despite the numerical disadvantage, Atletico Madrid managed the remainder of the contest with composure, preserving their clean sheet and formidable four-goal cushion.
This emphatic victory not only places Atletico on the cusp of the final but also serves as a significant statement of intent, having so comprehensively outplayed the cup holders. The second leg at Camp Nou now looms as a historic challenge for Barcelona, who must engineer a comeback of unprecedented proportions to keep their title defense alive.