Atlético Madrid - Barcelona 02-04-2025

Atlético Madrid and Barcelona meet in a crucial semi-final of the Copa del Rey, where everything is wide open and much is at stake. A perfect starting point for goals.

Analysis of the teams

After an intense 4-4 draw in the first leg, expectations are high for the return leg.

The 2-4 result in La Liga in Madrid on March 16 shows that these teams can score, so now we will see what Atlético can come up with in their second attempt at home in this semi-final.

The last time Atlético Madrid and Barcelona met in the semi-finals of the Copa del Rey was in 2017, when the Catalans won 3-2 on aggregate against Diego Simeone's team. But already after the first semi-final in 2025, more goals have been scored, and we believe there will be even more in the second leg.

Atlético Madrid – Only chance for gold this season?

Atlético have struggled with inconsistent form this season, showing both peak form and slumps in different phases. Simeone's men are known for their defensive organisation and counter-attacking strength.

In the first leg, Atlético created several chances from set pieces, which could be a decisive factor in the second leg. Antoine Griezmann and Julian Alvarez will be key players in attack. They each had one goal in Barcelona before the 10th minute. Super substitute Sørloth will probably get minutes here as well. However, Atlético have shown weaknesses in holding onto their lead and have struggled against teams that press high and exploit the space behind the defensive line. Midfield duo Barrios and De Paul must balance defensive structure with creative play.

Defensively, Atlético have struggled to deal with fast wingers, which could be challenging against Barcelona's wing strength. It will be important for Simeone to organise a compact defence to prevent Barcelona from exploiting the spaces.

Barcelona – Can they take control away from home too?

Barcelona have shown a more pragmatic approach under Flick, with an increased focus on quick ball recovery and direct attacking play. They have had great success exploiting their opponents' defensive weaknesses, especially through Ferrán Torres in attack, Raphinha and Yamal on the wings. We saw in the second leg that Torres was replaced by Lewandowski, who scored from the jump-off. Here, perhaps Lewandowski can gain confidence from the start.

The midfield, with players like Frenkie de Jong and Pedri, has a key role in controlling the tempo. They must break through Atlético Madrid's defensive blocks and create passes that put Robert Lewandowski in good scoring positions. He will take advantage of his chances whether he gets 90 or 20 minutes on the pitch.

Another match with a lot of speed and goals

The match could be physical and tactically disciplined. Atlético will likely try to decide the game early, as they did in Barcelona, ​​while Barcelona will try to dominate possession. Efficiency on set pieces and the ability to handle counterattacks could be crucial. After leading 0-2, Atlético lost their defensive grip, but showed strength by coming back after Barcelona scored four goals. The match ended 4-4, which makes this second leg very interesting. Now it remains to be seen who dares to let their guard down and take the lead.

Spain at 21:30: Atlético Madrid - Barcelona: BTTS + over 2.5 goals (1.92)

Alternative game:

Spain at 21:30: Atlético Madrid – Barcelona: Julian Alvarez scores goal (2.60)