Atlético Madrid put one foot in the Copa del Rey final with a stunning 4-0 victory over Barcelona in the first leg of their semi-final at the Metropolitano. A relentless first-half display left the visitors in pieces, with goals from an Eric García own goal, Ademola Lookman, Antoine Griezmann and Julián Alvarez giving Diego Simeone's side a commanding lead to take to the Camp Nou.
The opener arrived after just six minutes when Eric García's back pass slipped under goalkeeper Joan García's foot and crossed the line. Griezmann doubled the lead on 13 minutes after a slick move involving goalkeeper Juan Musso, Lookman and Alvarez. The third came before half-time as Giuliano Simeone raced clear down the right, with Griezmann setting him free and Lookman providing the finish. Atlético could have added more, with Griezmann and Alvarez both going close.
Diego Simeone, whose side are seeking a first Copa del Rey final in 13 years, said he always believed his team could perform like this. “I'm not a wizard but I did believe that the team could play like this,” he said. “This will remain in the memory however the tie ends.” His counterpart Hansi Flick admitted Barcelona had been handed a “great lesson” but vowed his team would fight. “We need to win 2-0 in each half,” he said of the second-leg plan.
Barcelona struggled to cope with Atlético's energy from the start, with Giuliano Simeone setting the tone with an early foul on Alejandro Balde. Fermín López hit the bar for the visitors, while Pau Cubarsí had a goal ruled out by VAR in the second half. Eric García's night ended in disaster as he was sent off in the final minutes following another VAR review, leaving Barcelona with a mountain to climb.
