Rashford Poised to Steal the Spotlight as Barcelona Clash with Atletico Madrid—Latest Injury Updates and Starting XI Predictions
Barcelona are determined to reach back-to-back Copa del Rey finals for the first time in this decade, but they face a challenging task against the formidable Atlético Madrid in the semifinal, with the opening leg taking place away from home on Thursday evening.
The beginning of 2026 has been almost flawless for Barcelona, securing victory in 10 of their 11 matches since the new year began. Hansi Flick's squad comfortably defeated Mallorca 3–0 in their most recent outing and now focuses on pursuing their quest for a historic 33rd Copa del Rey trophy.
However, Atlético Madrid at home presents a significant challenge. While Diego Simeone's team hasn't been exceptional this season, they possess the talent to trouble Barcelona as they have previously when entering matches as the underdog.
Traveling away to begin the semifinal encounter, Barcelona must perform almost perfectly to return to Catalonia with a favorable outcome.
Match Snapshot
Match Snapshot
Team News
Team News
Raphinha is approaching the final stages of his rehabilitation from an adductor injury, but the Brazilian continues to train individually and awaits a late fitness assessment to confirm his availability for Thursday's encounter.
Should the winger remain unavailable, he'll be grouped with Pedri, Gavi and Andreas Christensen among the injured players Flick must navigate around. Even if Raphinha does return to fitness, he's likely to only contribute as a substitute.
With Pedri sidelined through injury, Flick has deployed both of his natural attacking midfielders, Dani Olmo and Fermín López, in starting roles during recent matches. Consequently, the German has modified his favored 4-2-3-1 system, adapting it to a 4-3-3 with Frenkie de Jong serving as the midfield anchor while López and Olmo function in the half spaces flanking the Dutch player.
Barcelona Predicted Lineup vs. Atlético Madrid (4-3-3)
Barcelona Predicted Lineup vs. Atlético Madrid (4-3-3)
GK: Joan García—Wojciech Szczęsny maintained a clean sheet during Barcelona's previous visit to the Metropolitano in last season's semifinal. García now has the responsibility to match that achievement.
RB: Jules Koundé—Should Koundé's recent underwhelming defensive displays persist on Thursday, he could become a constant target for Atléti's offensive players, potentially leading to João Cancelo's earlier-than-expected introduction.
CB: Pau Cubarsí—Cubarsí must remain alert against Ademola Lookman and Julián Álvarez, though the young defender will approach the match with confidence following a composed weekend display.
CB: Eric García—García has been virtually faultless throughout the season and will command the defensive line, with the liberty to advance forward to initiate build-up play in a tactical adjustment that's become crucial for Barça to overcome pressing tactics.
LB: Alejandro Balde—In December, Balde effectively neutralized Guiliano Simeone in one of his finest displays this season and will be motivated to repeat that success.
CM: Fermin López—The La Masia product has been somewhat subdued in recent matches but remains a dynamic and threatening presence in Barça's midfield. He'll function between the lines with the liberty to move freely in Barça's flexible midfield setup.
CM: Frenkie de Jong—Following his rest in the previous match, De Jong will resume his role anchoring Barcelona's midfield, aiming to maintain his exceptional early 2026 form where he's emerged as a commanding influence.
CM: Dani Olmo—Olmo has excelled while operating at various levels of the field since Pedri's injury. His capability to perform in tight spaces remains reliable, but his excellence as a deep-lying creator has been particularly notable in recent appearances.
RW: Lamine Yamal—Yamal contributed two assists in last season's semifinal against Atléti and maintains an unbeaten record against Simeone's team throughout his career. He's recently elevated his performance to new heights and will be keen to extend his scoring streak to six consecutive matches.
ST: Robert Lewandowski—The experienced Polish striker delivered a promising display at the weekend but now confronts the difficult task of facing Atléti's robust center-backs. Nevertheless, with Ferran Torres struggling for form, Lewandowski appears set to spearhead the attack on Thursday evening.
LW: Marcus Rashford—Atléti have focused their defensive strategy on restricting Yamal's impact in recent encounters. With Raphinha still not completely fit, Rashford will be selected to attack the vulnerable flank of the hosts' defense and, following an impressive Saturday performance, it represents an ideal chance for the English player to demonstrate his value in a crucial fixture.