Atleti’s Four-Goal Blitz: Barça Crushed in a Single Half

Simeone's blueprint stops Barça's weapons.

Match developments

Atlético Madrid faced their visitors Barcelona in the opening half of the Copa del Rey semifinal first leg at the Metropolitano, pressing high and exploiting vulnerable moments in Barça's defense.

The hosts struck four goals before the break, a testament to relentless pressure and lapses at the back by Barcelona.

The opener arrived in the seventh minute when a routine backpass from Barça defender erred, slipping under the goalkeeper Juan Garcia and gifting Atlético the lead.

Seven minutes later, French star Antoine Griezmann doubled the advantage with a precise strike into the far corner past Garcia.

Nigerian attacker Ademola Lookman then featured in a rapid counter, finishing after a swift sequence that began with Julián Simeone and a low pass from Álvarez, making it 3-0.

To cap the first-half rout, Julián Simeone struck just before halftime, in stoppage time, finishing a move sparked by Lookman and Álvarez to push the score to 4-0.

Caption: Atlético Madrid dominance in the first half foreshadowed a tough ask for Barça in the return leg.

Punchline 1: If Barça’s defense was a TV signal, it would be buffering—every move paused and then suddenly the ball found the net anyway.

Punchline 2: Barça must have ordered a stronger firewall after this half, because Atlético just posted a four-goal malware warning.