Barcelona beats Atletico to reach Copa del Rey final

In Spain, Barcelona secured a place in the Copa del Rey final by defeating Atletico Madrid 1-0 in a semi-final match held on April 2, 2025. This victory allowed Barcelona to progress 5-4 on aggregate after a thrilling first leg that ended in a 4-4 draw. The only goal of the match was scored by Ferran Torres in the 27th minute, following a well-placed through ball from Lamine Yamal. The match took place at the Metropolitano Stadium, where Barcelona exhibited a strong performance, managing to keep a clean sheet against a typically formidable Atletico side. Atletico Madrid, on the other hand, faced yet another disappointment as they were eliminated from the Copa del Rey, marking a season devoid of major titles. This loss compounded their earlier exit from the Champions League, where they had suffered a round of 16 defeat on penalties to Real Madrid. Atletico's head coach, Diego Simeone, expressed his sadness over the team's elimination but highlighted the effort shown by the players throughout the season. The defeat extended Atletico's winless streak to six matches, provoking concerns about the team's potential fourth consecutive season without a trophy. Barcelona, the most successful club in Copa del Rey history with 31 titles, now advances to face cross-town rivals Real Madrid in the final, scheduled for April 26 in Seville. Under coach Hansi Flick, Barcelona is currently leading La Liga, three points ahead of Real Madrid. The two rivals have previously faced each other twice this season, with Barcelona achieving significant victories. Flick remains focused on upcoming matches and wisely refrains from discussing potential treble-winning scenarios, urging the team to maintain concentration on each game as it comes. In a season that started with high hopes, Atletico Madrid finds itself reflecting on missed opportunities, particularly as they had aimed to capitalize on the Copa del Rey as their best chance at silverware this year. With their league campaign faltering, Atletico is left to reconsider their objectives for the remaining matches of the season, with their chances of overcoming the significant points gap separating them from Barcelona looking increasingly slim.