Atletico Madrid reached the Copa del Rey final for the first time since 2013 despite a 3-0 defeat to Barcelona on Tuesday. The 4-0 win in the first leg in Madrid was enough to secure a 4-3 aggregate victory in a breathless semi-final.
Barcelona were on the verge of an unlikely comeback from last month’s thrashing, with 18-year-old midfielder Marc Bernal, starting in place of the injured Frenkie De Jong, scoring in each half, and Raphinha converting a penalty after Pedri made a mistake.
The hosts dominated from the kick-off, knowing at least four goals were needed to force extra time, and pressed Diego Simeone’s side deep into their own half.
Lamine Yamal sparked the revival in the 30th minute, slotting past two defenders from a tight angle before delivering a low cross for Bernal to convert from close range.
Atletico had a chance to relieve the pressure but Ademola Lookman headed narrowly wide from a Marcos Llorente cross, with Barcelona doubling their lead shortly afterwards when defender Marc Pubill fouled Pedri in the penalty area in first-half stoppage time.
Raphinha sent the penalty to the left as goalkeeper Juan Musso dived in the other direction.
Musso kept Atletico afloat after the break by using one hand to convert Pedri’s effort in the 54th minute and then denying Bernal from the edge of the area before saving twice from Yamal.
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The third goal came in the 72nd minute when Bernal whipped in Joao Cancelo’s cross, leaving Barcelona one goal short of forcing extra time.
Instead, Atletico held on to progress and will meet the winner of Wednesday’s other semi-final between Real Sociedad and Athletic Bilbao, with Sociedad holding a 1-0 lead in the first leg.
“A match like this makes you really proud of your team,” said Barcelona captain Raphinha MovistarPlus.
«If we keep playing like this, we will have a spectacular end to the season. I’m sure the fans are proud too, as evidenced by what happened at the end of the match. We also know that we are up against a team that is defending its own.»
Published on March 4, 2026
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