Barcelona and Atlético Madrid Set for Copa del Rey Clash
Barcelona travels to Spain’s capital to face Atlético Madrid on Thursday for the first leg of a mouthwatering Copa del Rey semifinal tie.
A Repeat of Last Season’s Battle
For the second season in a row, Barcelona must overcome Diego Simeone’s side in their last hurdle before the final. Last year, Flick’s men defeated Atlético 5–4 on aggregate to advance and conquer their 32nd Copa del Rey title.
Barcelona’s Strong Form
The Catalans arrive as the most in-form team in Spain, having lost just one of their last 18 games. They recently defeated Real Madrid slayers Albacete and followed that up with a dominant 3–0 win against Mallorca.
Atlético’s Inconsistent Run
Meanwhile, Atlético have been inconsistent this season. They defeated Real Betis 5–0 to advance to the semifinal but then lost 1–0 to the same opponent in La Liga.
A History of Thrilling Encounters
Regardless of recent form, Barcelona and Atlético Madrid have delivered spectacular matches in recent years, and Thursday’s first leg promises to be another exciting contest.
Match Details
- Location: Madrid, Spain
- Stadium: Riyadh Air Metropolitano
- Date: Thursday, Feb. 12
- Kick-off Time: 3:00 p.m. ET / 12:00 p.m. PT / 8:00 p.m. GMT
Head-to-Head Record
- Atlético Madrid: 1 win
- Barcelona: 3 wins
- Draws: 1
Last Meeting: Barcelona 3–1 Atlético Madrid (Dec. 2, 2025)—La Liga
Current Form
| Atlético Madrid (LWDLW) | Barcelona (WWWWW) |
|---|---|
| Atlético Madrid 0–1 Real Betis | Barcelona 3–0 Mallorca |
| Real Betis 0–5 Atlético Madrid | Albacete 1–2 Barcelona |
| Levante 0–0 Atlético Madrid | Elche 1–3 Barcelona |
| Atlético Madrid 1–2 Bodø/Glimt | Barcelona 4–1 Copenhagen |
| Atlético Madrid 3–0 Mallorca | Barcelona 3–0 Real Oviedo |
How to Watch
| Country | TV/Live Stream |
|---|---|
| United States | ESPN Select, fuboTV, ESPN App |
| United Kingdom | ITV4, ITVX |
| Mexico | Sky Sports Mexico, Sky+ |
Team News
Atlético Madrid
Simeone will have to work around fitness issues in midfield. Pablo Barrios will miss the clash through a muscular injury, and Johnny Cardoso is a doubt. Veteran captain Koke is expected to start, potentially alongside Rodrigo Mendoza or Obed Vargas. Juan Musso is expected to start in goal, with Dávid Hancko and José María Giménez in central defense.
Predicted Atlético Madrid Lineup
Atlético Madrid predicted lineup vs. Barcelona (4-4-2): Musso; Llorente, Giménez, Hancko, Ruggeri; Simeone, Koke, Mendoza, Baena; Álvarez, Lookman.
Barcelona
Flick will likely field his strongest lineup, but Barcelona will be without Pedri and Raphinha. Marcus Rashford is too out due to a knock. Ferran Torres is a likely replacement on the left wing. Frenkie de Jong will anchor the midfield, with Dani Olmo and Fermín López alongside him.
Predicted Barcelona Lineup
Barcelona Predicted Lineup vs. Atlético Madrid (4-3-3): García; Koundé, Cubarsí, García, Balde; López, De Jong, Olmo; Yamal, Lewandowski, Torres.
Score Prediction
Both teams will pose threats in what is expected to be an entertaining match. However, the tie is likely to be decided in the return leg at the Camp Nou.
Prediction: Atlético Madrid 2–2 Barcelona
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