- Barcelona beat Atletico 1-0, advancing to the final
- Barcelona will face Real Madrid on April 26
- Atletico loses 5-4 on aggregate, facing another home elimination
Barcelona secured a 1-0 victory at Atletico Madrid, booking a place in their first Copa del Rey final in four years and setting up a highly anticipated “Clasico” showdown with Real Madrid.
Ferran Torres scored the only goal of the game in the first half, sending the Catalan side through with a 5-4 aggregate score after a 4-4 draw in the first leg back in February in Barcelona.
Meanwhile, Madrid progressed to the final by defeating Real Sociedad in extra time on Tuesday, also advancing 5-4 on aggregate.
This will be the first Copa del Rey final between the two rivals since the 2013-14 season, when Madrid lifted the trophy. Atletico’s exit marked another disappointing home elimination, adding to their recent Champions League round-of-16 exit, which came at the hands of Madrid last month.
Barcelona, the tournament’s most decorated club with 31 titles, had not reached the final since 2021, when they defeated Athletic Bilbao. Madrid, with their 20th Copa title won against Osasuna in 2023, will be playing in their second final in three years.
The April 26 final in Seville will be the third Clasico of the season, with Barcelona having won 4-0 in the league back in October and 5-2 in the Spanish Super Cup final in January. The two sides could also face off in the Champions League this season.
Atletico, who last made the Copa final in 2013, had hoped to reach it again, having defeated Madrid that year to claim their 10th title. In the second leg, Atletico’s Alexander Sorloth had a goal disallowed for offside in the 69th minute, while Torres put Barcelona ahead in the 27th with a brilliant finish from inside the box, following a perfect through ball by Lamine Yamal.
