Barcelona and Atletico Madrid played out a pulsating 4-4 draw in a thrilling first leg of their Copa del Rey semi-final at the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys on Tuesday night, setting the stage for an intense second leg.
The match started with high intensity as Atletico Madrid took an early lead within the first minute when Julian Alvarez found the net with a well-placed volley. Just four minutes later, Antoine Griezmann doubled Atletico’s lead with a composed finish, putting Barcelona under immense pressure in the opening stages.
However, the Catalan giants mounted a swift response. Pedri pulled one back in the 12th minute with a clinical strike before 17-year-old sensation Pau Cubarsí scored his first senior goal, bringing Barcelona level with a stunning effort just minutes later.
As the first half neared its conclusion, Barcelona completed their remarkable comeback when Iñigo Martínez rose highest to meet a Raphinha corner, heading home to put the hosts 3-2 up heading into the break.
In the second half, Barcelona appeared to be in control and extended their lead in the 74th minute when Robert Lewandowski finished off a brilliant pass from Lamine Yamal, sending the home crowd into a frenzy.
Despite being two goals down, Atletico Madrid refused to back down. They reduced the deficit when Marcos Llorente unleashed a powerful long-range strike in the 82nd minute, reviving the visitors’ hopes.
As the match entered the final moments, Atletico delivered a final twist when Alexander Sørloth slotted home the equalizer, ensuring the tie remained finely balanced at 4-4.
With this dramatic first leg encounter setting the tone for what promises to be an explosive second leg at the Metropolitano Stadium in five weeks, both teams will now shift their focus to securing a spot in the Copa del Rey final.