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Total capitulation in the capital. On Wednesday, February 11, 2026, Barcelona’s Copa del Rey dreams were left in tatters after a historic 4–0 dismantling by Diego Simeone’s Atletico Madrid in the semi-final first leg.
Without the injured Marcus Rashford, Hansi Flick’s side looked lost from the first whistle, conceding four goals in a single half for only the second time in 21 years.
The Match Breakdown: A First-Half Blitz 🎢
7’ - Disaster Start! 🧤: A horrific moment for Joan García. Under no pressure, the goalkeeper allowed a routine backpass from Eric García to roll under his foot and over the line for an own goal. 1-0 Atleti.
14’ - Clinical Griezmann 🇫🇷: It went from bad to worse as former Barça man Antoine Griezmann finished off a slick counter-attack with a low, composed drive. 2-0 Atleti.
33’ - Triple Trouble! 🇳🇬: Ademola Lookman made it three, tapping home after the Atleti front four carved through the Barça midfield with ease. 3-0 Atleti.
45+2’ - The Knockout Blow 🕷️: Julián Álvarez rifled a stunning fourth into the roof of the net right before the break to send the Riyadh Air Metropolitano into delirium.
VAR Chaos: Barça thought they had a lifeline in the second half through Pau Cubarsí, but after an agonizing 8-minute VAR review, the goal was ruled out for a marginal offside.
Red Card 🟥: To compound the misery, Eric García was sent off in the 85th minute for a professional foul on Alex Baena.
The Verdict: This was a tactical masterclass from Simeone and a defensive collapse from Flick. Barcelona missed Rashford’s pace and Lewandowski's presence in the first half, but the real issue was a backline that looked shell-shocked. March 3rd will requires one of the greatest comebacks in the club's history.