Barcelona secured their place in the Copa del Rey final for the first time since the 2020/21 season, overcoming Atletico Madrid with a narrow 1-0 victory in the second leg of their semifinal clash at the Metropolitano Stadium. The 5-4 aggregate triumph handed Hansi Flick�s side a hard-fought ticket to Seville, where they will face arch-rivals Real Madrid, while ending Atletico�s hopes of salvaging a faltering season.
The third meeting between the two sides since late February was charged with intensity, as Atletico, reeling from a torrid March that saw them exit the UEFA Champions League and fade from LaLiga contention, sought redemption. Their desperation was evident early on when Cesar Azpilicueta escaped a potential red card for a studs-up challenge on Raphinha�s leg, with referee Jose Luis Munuera Montero sticking to a yellow after review.
Barcelona soon seized control, with teenage sensation Lamine Yamal nearly breaking the deadlock, curling a shot just wide after a dazzling first touch. The visitors� dominance paid off in the first half when Ferran Torres stretched to poke Yamal�s precise through-ball past Atletico goalkeeper Juan Musso, giving Barca a crucial lead. Raphinha had a chance to double the advantage before the break, but his low drive from a tight angle was smothered by Musso.
Atletico boss Diego Simeone responded with a triple substitution at half-time, injecting fresh energy into his side. Substitute Alexander Sorloth, who had leveled the tie with a stoppage-time strike in the first leg, nearly repeated the feat, firing into the side netting shortly after his introduction. The hosts improved markedly, but a disallowed goal midway through the second half�Sorloth ruled offside after burying a low shot�silenced the home crowd and kept Barcelona ahead.
Despite Atletico�s resurgence, clear chances remained scarce, a stark contrast to the first leg�s late drama. Barcelona threatened sporadically, with Raphinha�s neat touch and strike almost sealing the tie, but the visitors held firm to claim a fourth consecutive away victory over their rivals. Atletico�s failure to find an equalizer marked their sixth straight match without a win (D1, L5), a slump that has left them nine points adrift in LaLiga and out of all cup competitions.
For Barcelona, the win extends an imperious unbeaten run to 21 games across all competitions (W18, D3). Having already lifted the Spanish Super Cup, Flick�s side remains in contention for a historic quadruple. Their next challenge: a blockbuster Copa del Rey final against Real Madrid, promising yet another chapter in one of football�s fiercest rivalries.
