Copa del Rey: Atletico hits Barcelona for four to take giant step toward final

Atletico Madrid thrashes Barcelona 4-0 in Copa del Rey semi-final, eyeing a spot in the final against Real Sociedad or Athletic Bilbao.

Atletico Madrid tore Barcelona apart with four first-half goals to secure a 4-0 victory on Thursday (February 12, 2026) in the first ​leg of their Copa del Rey semi-final, leaving the holders staring at a near impossible task ‌in the return match.

Diego Simeone's side needed only 45 minutes at ​home to seize control of the tie, capitalising on a calamitous ⁠early error before carving Hansi Flick's team open at will to move to the brink of April's final in Seville.

Atletico took the lead in the sixth minute in extraordinary fashion. Barcelona ‌defender Eric Garcia rolled a routine pass back, but goalkeeper Joan Garcia, already scanning upfield, allowed the ball to slip under his boot and ‌towards goal. His desperate dive came too late as it had crossed ‌the ⁠line.

Eight minutes later they doubled their lead with a flowing move. Ademola ⁠Lookman collected a long ball on the left and fed Julian Alvarez, who switched play to Nahuel Molina. The right back slipped a clever pass inside for Antoine Griezmann, who controlled smoothly and guided ​the ball into the bottom corner.

Atletico Madrid's Julian Alvarez, centre, challenges for the ball with Barcelona's Pau Cubarsi, right, and Frenkie de Jong | Photo Credit: AP

The ‌third goal, in the 33rd minute, was another counter. Giuliano Simeone drove down the right and crossed low to Alvarez, who squared for an unmarked Lookman to fire into the bottom corner.