Madrid, February 13, 2026, Atletico Madrid ran over Barcelona 4-0 on Thursday night in the first leg of their Copa del Rey semifinal at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano.- Watch the Highlights
Diego Simeone’s side stayed sharp, defended with discipline, and punished every mistake on the break. They scored all four goals before the break, and that leaves Hansi Flick’s La Liga leaders with a huge mountain to climb in the return leg at Spotify Camp Nou.
This scoreline stands out as one of Barcelona’s toughest losses in this era. At the same time, it gives Atletico a firm grip on the tie. With a final against either Real Sociedad or Athletic Bilbao on the line, the win has the Metropolitano talking seriously about lifting a trophy.
A Costly Error Sparks It All
Barcelona fell apart early, and it started with a moment nobody expected. In the 7th minute, Eric Garcia played a routine back pass to Joan Garcia. Even without pressure, the goalkeeper miscontrolled it and let the ball slip under his boot. The ball rolled toward the goal, and Ademola Lookman chased it down to make sure it crossed the line. Officials credited the opener as an Eric Garcia own goal, but the mistake came from the back.
After that, Atletico smelled blood. Barcelona’s high line left space behind, so Simeone’s team attacked it right away. In the 14th minute, Nahuel Molina picked out Antoine Griezmann with a well-timed pass. Griezmann burst through and finished left-footed to make it 2-0. He kept the celebration quiet against his former club, but the stadium didn’t.
Lookman and Alvarez Finish the Job
Atletico kept hitting Barcelona in transition, and the third goal showed it. In the 33rd minute, Julian Alvarez started the move and found Griezmann, who then slipped the ball to Lookman. The Nigerian forward, one of Simeone’s newer options, stayed calm and finished from close range for 3-0. Barcelona held possession at times, but they struggled to create anything that worried Jan Oblak.
Then, just before halftime, Atletico landed the final punch. In first-half stoppage time (45+2′), Alvarez collected the ball near the top of the box and hammered a right-footed shot into the top corner. Joan Garcia had no chance, and Atletico went into the break up 4-0. Simeone celebrated on the sideline, while Barcelona walked off looking stunned.
After the restart, Atletico played with more caution and focused on protecting the lead. Meanwhile, Barcelona pushed forward, looking for something, anything, to change the mood. Subs like Ronald Araujo and Joao Cancelo didn’t change the flow, and the chances stayed limited. When the whistle blew, it confirmed a painful night for the Catalan side and a rare 4-0 score in this rivalry.
Match Highlights
- 7′: Eric Garcia’s own goal (after a Joan Garcia miscontrol), 1-0
- 14′: Antoine Griezmann (assist: Nahuel Molina) , 2-0
- 33′: Ademola Lookman (assist: Julian Alvarez, then Griezmann) , 3-0
- 45+2′: Julian Alvarez (long-range strike), 4-0
Atletico built the win on energy, quick passing on the break, and ruthless finishing. Barcelona, even with spells of possession, looked open at the back and short on ideas in the final third.
Atletico Madrid Player Ratings
| Player | Position | Rating | Key Contribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan Oblak | GK | 8.0 | Calm, barely tested |
| Nahuel Molina | RB | 8.5 | Assist for Griezmann |
| Jose Maria Gimenez | CB | 8.0 | Strong, no-nonsense defending |
| Clement Lenglet | CB | 7.5 | Steady and composed |
| Javi Galan | LB | 7.8 | Positive runs, solid work rate |
| Rodrigo De Paul | CM | 8.2 | Drove the tempo and transitions |
| Conor Gallagher | CM | 7.9 | High energy, pressed well |
| Pablo Barrios | CM | 7.7 | Kept play moving |
| Antoine Griezmann | FW | 9.0 | Goal, linked play well (MOTM) |
| Ademola Lookman | FW | 8.8 | Took his goal cleanly |
| Julian Alvarez | FW | 9.2 | Goal plus assist, standout strike |
Barcelona Player Ratings
| Player | Position | Rating | Key Contribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Joan Garcia | GK | 4.5 | Major error for the first goal |
| Pau Cubarsi | CB | 5.8 | Struggled when Atletico broke forward |
| Eric Garcia | CB | 4.0 | Own goal, rough night |
| Inigo Martinez | CB | 5.5 | Caught out in transition |
| Jules Kounde | RB | 6.0 | Had little cover on his side |
| Frenkie de Jong | CM | 6.2 | Couldn’t control the game |
| Pedri | CM | 6.5 | Tried to create, but lacked support |
| Gavi | CM | 6.0 | Worked hard, little end product |
| Lamine Yamal | RW | 6.3 | A few bright moments |
| Robert Lewandowski | ST | 5.8 | Isolated, a few touches in danger areas |
| Raphinha | LW | 5.7 | Never found a rhythm |
After the match, Simeone called it a “perfect first half.” Flick said Barcelona “lost control early and paid for it.” Now, Barcelona needs something special in the second leg to keep their Copa del Rey hopes alive.
