Atletico Madrid will face Barcelona in the second leg of their Copa del Rey semi-final at the Metropolitano Stadium.
The tie is delicately balanced after an exciting 4-4 draw in the first leg last month, with both sides aiming to secure a spot in the final against either Real Madrid or Real Sociedad.
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Atletico Madrid vs Barcelona: Preview
Atletico Madrid’s season is teetering on the edge after their Champions League aspirations were shattered and their La Liga title hopes were dealt a blow over the past month. Diego Simeone’s side began a tough patch of form with 2-1 away losses to Real Madrid in the Champions League and Getafe in La Liga.
Though they secured a 1-0 win in the second leg of their European quarter-final against Los Blancos, their Champions League campaign ended with a penalty shootout defeat. They then squandered a two-goal lead, losing 4-2 at home to league leaders Barcelona, before returning from the international break with a 1-1 draw against Espanyol in Saturday’s away fixture.
Cesar Azpilicueta’s remarkable first La Liga goal ultimately proved futile as Javi Puado equalized from the penalty spot, extending Atletico’s winless league run to three matches. With nine games remaining, they now find themselves nine points behind the league leaders.
As a result, the Copa del Rey represents Atletico’s best chance of silverware this season, with the team aiming for their first win in the competition since 2012-13. The tie against Barcelona is finely balanced after Atletico fought back to secure a 4-4 draw in the first leg, though their chances of advancing are not aided by the fact that they have failed to progress from their last three Copa del Rey semi-finals.
In contrast, Barcelona are still vying for multiple trophies, having already lifted the Spanish Super Cup in January. The Blaugrana have gone unbeaten in 20 games across all competitions (W17, D3) since their 2-1 loss to Atletico Madrid in December’s league match.
Currently at the top of La Liga, Barcelona are also in the Champions League quarter-finals and just one game away from reaching their first Copa del Rey final since winning the trophy in 2020-21.
Following the international break, Xavi’s side secured two impressive home victories, including a 3-0 win against Osasuna and a 4-1 triumph over Girona on Sunday, where Robert Lewandowski scored twice, Ferran Torres added another, and a Ladislav Krejci own goal sealed the victory.
With those results, Barcelona became the first La Liga team to score 139 goals in 45 competitive games in a single season, giving them momentum ahead of their second visit to the Metropolitano in just over two weeks.
The Catalan giants have won each of their last three away matches against Atletico since a 2-0 loss in October 2021. They’ll also be buoyed by their strong Copa del Rey semi-final record, progressing from eight of their last nine appearances in the competition, with their only setback coming in the 2022-23 semi-finals when they were knocked out by Real Madrid with a 5-1 aggregate loss.
Atletico Madrid vs Barcelona: Head-to-head
Barcelona hold the upper hand in the overall head-to-head record between the two clubs, with 111 wins compared to Atletico’s 77, and 57 draws in their 245 meetings.
The Catalan side has also been the more prolific, scoring 464 goals in those encounters, while Atletico have netted 356 times. Lionel Messi is the all-time top scorer in this fixture, with 32 goals against Atletico, 16 ahead of Cesar Rodriguez, who sits second.
Barcelona also dominate the head-to-head in La Liga, having won 81 of their 176 league encounters, compared to Atletico’s 53, with 42 draws. Of the last 12 matches between the sides, 11 have been in La Liga, where Barcelona had enjoyed a five-match winning streak, including 1-0 and 3-0 victories during the 2023-24 season.
However, Atletico stunned Barcelona with a 2-1 win at Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys in December 2024, with Alexander Sorloth scoring a dramatic last-minute winner. Barcelona avenged that defeat in the reverse fixture at Wanda Metropolitano, coming from two goals down to secure a 4-2 victory.
Atletico went on an impressive five-match unbeaten run against Barcelona between January 2020 and October 2021, winning three times, including twice in La Liga. Their success in the most recent league encounter at Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys marked their first away win over Barcelona since February 2006.
The two teams also faced off in the Copa del Rey in February 2025, drawing 4-4 in the first leg of their semi-final, with the return fixture scheduled for early April.
- Matches Played: 245
- Atletico Madrid Wins: 77
- Draws: 57
- Barcelona Wins: 111
Atletico Madrid vs Barcelona: Team News and Predicted Lineup
Atletico Madrid – Team News
Atletico Madrid captain Koke is racing against time to prove his fitness after being sidelined for the last eight games due to a muscle issue.
Defender Robin Le Normand is expected to be fit, despite having been forced off in the first half against Espanyol with a head injury. However, he may have to settle for a spot on the bench.
Forward Angel Correa will serve the third match of his five-game suspension for using offensive language towards the referee during Atletico’s 2-1 loss to Getafe.
Jose Maria Gimenez, Rodrigo De Paul, and Julian Alvarez are all expected to start after being rested as substitutes on Saturday, following their long journeys back from international duty in South America.
Diego Simeone may also consider starting Reinildo Mandava on the left side of defense to deal with the threat posed by Lamine Yamal.
Atletico Madrid – Predicted Lineup (4-4-2)
- Goalkeper – Musso
- Defenders – Llorente, Gimenez, Lenglet, Reinildo
- Midfielders – Simeone, Barrios, De Paul, Lino
- Forwards – Griezmann, Alvarez
Barcelona – Team News
For the visitors, Barcelona will be without Marc-Andre ter Stegen, Marc Bernal, and Marc Casado, with Andreas Christensen still to be assessed ahead of the second leg.
Attacker Dani Olmo is also unavailable after being ruled out for up to three weeks due to an adductor injury he sustained in Thursday’s 2-1 victory over Osasuna.
Pau Cubarsi has not been deemed fit enough to start in the last two games after picking up an injury while on international duty, though he could potentially replace Ronald Araujo in the backline for Wednesday’s fixture.
Frenkie de Jong is likely to return to the midfield after coming off the bench in Sunday’s commanding 4-1 win over Girona.
Raphinha was not risked in the weekend’s match and watched from the bench, which should ensure he is fully refreshed and ready to start at the Metropolitano.
Barcelona – Predicted Lineup (4-2-3-1)
- Goalkeper – Szczesny
- Defenders – Kounde, Cubarsi, Martinez, Balde
- Midfielders – Gavi, Pedri, Gavi
- Forwards – Raphinha, Yamal, Lewandowski
Atletico Madrid vs Barcelona: Prediction
With Barcelona entering Wednesday’s second leg on the back of an impressive six-game winning streak, they will undoubtedly carry significant momentum into the match. Their recent form, combined with their superior confidence and attacking prowess, makes them formidable opponents for Atletico Madrid. Despite being away from home, Barcelona has shown they can overcome tough challenges, including their recent victory over Atletico at the Metropolitano.
Atletico Madrid, while strong at home, has been struggling to find consistency in recent weeks. Injuries, suspensions, and defensive lapses have hindered their progress, and although they will be motivated by the support of their home crowd, their recent form doesn’t suggest they have the quality to stop Barcelona’s high-flying attack.
Barcelona’s momentum and offensive strength are likely to see them through, even in the hostile environment of the Metropolitano. While Atletico will put up a strong fight, Barcelona’s firepower should ultimately be enough to secure progression to the final.
Prediction: Atletico Madrid 1-3 Barcelona
When and Where to Watch Atletico Madrid vs Barcelona Match? Broadcast and Streaming Details
The Copa del Rey 2024/25 semi-final second leg match between Atletico Madrid and Barcelona will take place at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano, Madrid. The match is set for April 3 at 1 am IST. It will be streamed online via FanCode.
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FAQs
What is Atletico Madrid’s recent form?
Atletico Madrid has struggled lately, with inconsistent results and Koke’s injury.
Is Barcelona missing key players for the match?
Yes, Dani Olmo, Marc-Andre ter Stegen, and Andreas Christensen are unavailable.
How is Barcelona performing recently?
Barcelona is in great form, winning six straight matches, including a 4-1 victory over Girona.
What is the head-to-head record between Atletico and Barcelona?
Barcelona leads 111 wins to Atletico’s 77 in their overall head-to-head.
What’s the prediction for the second leg?
Barcelona is expected to win 2-1, advancing to the Copa del Rey final.
