In an adrenaline-pumping encounter on Tuesday, Atletico Madrid and Barcelona delivered a Copa del Rey semifinal opener that football fans won't soon forget. The match at Lluis Companys Stadium ended in a spectacular 4-4 draw, setting the stage for a riveting second leg at the Metropolitano Stadium in Madrid on April 2.
Atletico Madrid, coached by Diego Simeone, started strong by taking a two-goal lead within the first six minutes, thanks to Julian Alvarez and Antoine Griezmann. However, Barcelona swiftly responded with a barrage of goals, leveling the scoreline three times through Pedri, Pau Cubarsi, and Inigo Martinez, with Robert Lewandowski adding another to secure a 4-2 advantage for the Catalans.
Facing a challenging fixture list, Simeone fielded a formidable team, determined to hold their ground against one of Europe's elite clubs. Marcos Llorente and Alexander Sorloth sparked a dramatic comeback for Atletico, with Sorloth netting a late 93rd-minute goal to equalize and send the tie into extra time with a final score of 4-4.
Reflecting on the intense match, Julian Alvarez shared his thoughts with Movistar, saying, \"It was crazy, a lot of goals, we knew it wouldn't be easy against one of the best teams in Europe, they've proved that. We did our work too though, and there's 90 minutes to go. We have to continue on this path.\"
The excitement doesn't end here, as Wednesday night's semifinal opener will feature Real Madrid taking on Real Sociedad, promising more high-stakes action in the race for the Copa del Rey trophy.
Reference(s):
Atletico and Barca split eight goals in Copa del Rey semifinal opener
cgtn.com
