Barcelona Draws Toughest Possible Copa del Rey Semifinal Matchup
Barcelona is set to face Atlético Madrid in the Copa del Rey semifinals, marking a rematch of last year's semifinal encounter.
The Friday draw placed Barça alongside Athletic Club, Real Sociedad and Atlético in the final four—with Real Madrid having been knocked out by second-division side Albacete in the round of 16. While none of these teams will be straightforward opponents for Hansi Flick's squad, Los Rojiblancos, currently positioned third in La Liga, appear to pose the most challenging matchup on paper.
During their successful campaign last season, Barcelona overcame Diego Simeone's team at this identical stage. An exciting 4–4 stalemate in the first leg was followed by a narrow 1–0 victory in the away fixture, securing Barcelona's passage to the final.
"Here we go again," responded Atlético's Marcos Llorente. "This doesn't affect my perspective. All three potential opponents were formidable. To claim victory, you must overcome two of them.
"I'll focus on match preparation following our league fixture. There's nothing else to add."
Barcelona most recently encountered Atlético in December, mounting a comeback to secure a 3–1 triumph with strikes from Raphinha, Dani Olmo and Ferran Torres.
Securing another Copa del Rey title would allow Barcelona to further cement their position as the tournament's most decorated club. The Blaugrana have claimed the prestigious trophy on 32 occasions, with Athletic sitting second with 24 victories.
Atlético have captured this tournament 10 times, while Real Sociedad are pursuing only their third championship.
Copa del Rey Semifinal Draw in Full
Copa del Rey Semifinal Draw in Full
When Are the Copa del Rey Semifinals?
When Are the Copa del Rey Semifinals?
This marks the first and sole stage of the tournament that will feature two-legged ties, with the opening matches scheduled for the second week of February.
Barcelona will subsequently aim to confirm their advancement when they welcome the second leg in the first week of March, though specific dates for these fixtures remain to be determined.