Atlético Madrid and Barcelona played out an exciting Copa del Rey match, with both teams losing two-goal leads, ending in a 4-4 draw in the first leg. Barcelona’s 14th unbeaten game in a row means the tie is still wide open for the second leg.
Both clubs came into the match in the middle of a fierce title race, and there was no rest for either team as Atlético shocked the home crowd by scoring just 50 seconds in. Antoine Griezmann crossed the ball into the box, and Clément Lenglet headed it to the back post, where Julián Alvarez was ready to poke it in. Alvarez then turned provider just minutes later, winning the ball in Barça’s half, charging forward, and playing a perfect pass to Griezmann, who finished coolly past Wojciech Szczęsny.
Barcelona looked stunned after conceding twice in six minutes, but their response would have pleased coach Hansi Flick. In the 19th minute, Pedri calmly slotted the ball into the bottom corner after a cutback from Jules Koundé. The home side then equalised less than two minutes later when Pau Cubarsí headed in from a Raphinha corner at the far post. Just before half-time, Barça took the lead when Iñigo Martínez nodded in another Raphinha corner.
Atlético came out strong after the break and nearly scored within minutes as Rodrigo De Paul played a brilliant pass to Griezmann, but his shot was saved by Szczęsny. Lamine Yamal, who had been quiet, thought he’d won a penalty when he was brought down in the box, but the referee waved away his protests.
Atlético continued to threaten on the counter-attack, and they thought they’d equalised when Ángel Correa sent Marcos Llorente through on goal, but Llorente passed to Alexander Sørloth to score, only for the goal to be ruled offside. Moments later, Barcelona went up the other end and scored again, with Yamal weaving through Atlético’s defence before setting up Robert Lewandowski to tap into an empty net.
But Atlético weren’t done yet. Llorente finished well into the far corner, setting up a thrilling second leg. Then, in stoppage time, Sørloth scored a last-gasp equaliser, leaving the match tied at 4-4. While the return leg is in April, the two sides will meet again sooner in LaLiga, which promises to be another exciting match.
