Atletico Madrid produced a stunning first-half display to hammer holders FC Barcelona 4-0 on Thursday in the first leg of their Copa del Rey semi-final.
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An early own goal by Eric Garcia handed Atletico the lead before former Barcelona striker Antoine Griezmann doubled the advantage. Ademola Lookman and Julian Alvarez then struck to give Diego Simeone’s side a commanding four-goal cushion by half-time.
Garcia’s misjudged pass on the uneven Metropolitano pitch bobbled past goalkeeper Joan Garcia and into the net after just seven minutes. Griezmann soon added the second, exploiting Barcelona’s high defensive line as Atletico repeatedly threatened on the counter.
Fermin Lopez hit the crossbar for Barcelona, but Atletico remained in control. Jules Kounde cleared one Alvarez effort off the line before Lookman steered home the third after a slick team move, prompting jubilant celebrations from Simeone on the touchline.
Alvarez, who had gone 11 matches without scoring, ended his drought by firing in Atletico’s fourth from inside the area before the break.
“In the first 45 minutes we got a great lesson for us,” Barcelona coach Hansi Flick said. “Sometimes it’s good to get that in the right moment, maybe today is the right moment.”
Barcelona thought they had pulled one back in the second half when Pau Cubarsi found the net, but the goal was disallowed after a lengthy VAR review for offside — a decision Flick questioned afterward.
The visitors’ misery deepened late on when Eric Garcia was sent off for fouling Alex Baena as he raced through on goal.
Despite chances at both ends in the second half, Atletico maintained their dominant advantage, which they will carry into the return leg at Camp Nou on March 3.
“I think our fans need these games,” Simeone said. “We had a great first half, reading the game very well, we were very efficient and calm in the final third.”
Well off the pace in La Liga and struggling in Europe, the Copa del Rey now appears Atletico’s best chance of silverware this season.
In the other semi-final, Real Sociedad beat Athletic Bilbao 1-0 in their first-leg clash on Wednesday.
