Playing at home, Barça even opened 4-2, but team from the Spanish capital sought the draw at the end; Vacancy decision in the final is open for the return game, scheduled for April 2
Barcelona and Atletico Madrid starred in one of the most exciting games of the European season on Tuesday (25). In a match full of twists, goals and intensity from start to finish, the teams drew 4-4 in the King’s Cup semifinals at the Lluis Company Olympic Stadium in Barcelona.
Atletico Madrid began the match with an aggressive posture and opened the scoring in the first minute. In an rehearsed corner play, Julian Álvarez appeared free on the second post to score. The initial impact was even greater when, after six minutes, Griezmann expanded after Koundé’s error and a quick counterattack completed accurately by the French.
Early disadvantage did not shake Barcelona, which showed impressive reaction power. At 19 minutes, Koundé redeemed himself from the error by finding Pedri inside the area, and the midfielder finished with category to reduce the scoring. In the next move, Raphinha took a corner kick and the young Cubarsrs, just 17, scored his first goal as a professional, drawing the match. The turn was still in the first half, again with a head goal, this time from Iñigo Martínez, after another corner well charged by Raphinha.
Behind the scoreboard, Atletico returned from the break seeking the draw. Diego Simeone’s team had good chances, but bumped into important Szczesny defenses. Barcelona seemed to send a comfortable victory when, after 29 minutes, Lamine Yamal made a beautiful individual move and served Lewandowski, which expanded to 4-2.
However, Atletico Madrid, known for his resilience under the command of Simeone, was not overcome. At 39 minutes, Llorente finished from outside the area and scored the third Colchonero goal. With the Barcelona crowd already celebrating and singing shouts of “olé”, Atletico took advantage of a deadly counterattack in the additions: Samuel Lino accurately crossed Sorloth, who decreed the draw and silenced the stadium.
With the draw, the decision of the place in the final is open for the return game, scheduled for April 2, at the Metropolitan Civitas Stadium in Madrid. Until then, both teams will have important appointments, including the Champions League final rounds and a direct match for the Spanish Championship. Currently, only one point separates the leader Barcelona from third place Atletico Madrid, while Real Madrid have the same score as Catalans, but behind in the tiebreaker criteria.
*With information from Estadão Content
Posted by Felipe Dantas
