Barcelona Scrambles to Madrid: Urgent Move Before Copa del Rey Semi-Final
11 February 2026
The match kicks off tomorrow night Thursday in the first leg of the Copa del Rey semi-final.
Match context and Barca's urgent decision
Barcelona's management made an urgent decision ahead of the clash with Atletico Madrid tomorrow evening, the first leg of the Copa del Rey semi-final.
Barça advanced to the semi-finals by beating Alavés 2-1 in the quarter-finals, securing a spot among the last four.
Atlético Madrid progressed with a 5-0 thumping of Real Betis in the quarter-finals, a display of their strength and title ambition.
Weather disruption forces a travel change
Mundo Deportivo warned that the forecast for tomorrow in Barcelona doesn't look good.
It said gusts could reach 100 kilometers per hour, prompting the Catalan government to suspend schooling across the region, from primary schools to universities, along with sporting events and medical appointments.
Given the situation, Barcelona adjusted its plans: their initial plan was to fly to Madrid tomorrow.
The club decided to travel tonight, as soon as possible, to the Spanish capital, with Barcelona set to depart at 9:30 p.m. local time.
Because strong winds were expected, there was a possibility of flight cancellations.
To mitigate this, Barcelona activated a night-time travel plan, keeping flights available from El Prat Airport.
Team members (players, coaches, staff, and directors) know they must pack quickly, since the departure time has been moved up.
Fans will watch the sky as closely as the clock.
