Atletico vs Barcelona – News and Probable Lineups

Atletico Madrid will host Barcelona at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano on Thursday evening for the first leg of their Copa del Rey semi-final showdown.

The two Spanish giants face off once again at this stage of the tournament, with Diego Simeone’s squad looking to exact revenge following their elimination by the Catalan team last season.

Match overview

Atletico Madrid encounters a familiar opponent in the semi-finals of the Copa del Rey, having been defeated by Barcelona at the same stage last year.

In that instance, an exhilarating 4-4 draw in the initial leg was followed by a close 1-0 win for Barcelona in the subsequent match, which allowed the Catalan side to advance to the final – a trophy they ultimately claimed.

Simeone’s side earned their place in the semi-finals in style, dismantling Real Betis 5-0 at La Cartuja in the quarter-finals, showcasing one of their most dominant displays of the season.

Nevertheless, their momentum was abruptly halted as Atletico faced a 1-0 defeat against the same Betis team in La Liga over the weekend.

This outcome means Simeone’s men have managed only two wins in their last five matches across all competitions, in addition to a draw and two losses – a sequence reflecting some recent fluctuations in form.

In the league standings, Atletico currently occupies third place with 45 points, 13 points behind league leaders Barcelona, putting their title aspirations on shaky ground.

With the La Liga title likely slipping away, the Copa del Rey is a vital opportunity for silverware this season, and Los Rojiblancos will be eager to avoid a repeat of last year’s disappointment.

Meanwhile, Barcelona arrives in outstanding form – under Hansi Flick, the team has claimed victory in their last six fixtures across all competitions, netting at least two goals in each win.

The Catalan side holds the top position in the La Liga table with 58 points from 23 fixtures, boasting the best attacking record in the league with 63 goals scored and merely 23 conceded.

They head into this match fresh off a comfortable 3-0 victory over Mallorca, with goals scored by Robert Lewandowski, Lamine Yamal, and Marc Bernal.

Having already secured the Spanish Super Cup this year, Barcelona is still competing for multiple trophies.

They have progressed to the Champions League knockout stage, lead the La Liga standings, and are aiming for another Copa del Rey final appearance as part of a potential treble pursuit.

For Flick’s players, they have triumphed in the last three encounters between these two teams, a psychological advantage they hope to carry into this semi-final first leg.

Team News

For Atletico Madrid, Marc Pubill is doubtful after missing the recent league match due to illness, but he may return if fully fit.

Nicolas Gonzalez is also uncertain due to ongoing physical discomfort, and Johnny Cardoso is ruled out with a muscle injury.

Pablo Barrios continues to be unavailable due to a thigh issue, having participated for only 50 minutes in Atletico’s last Copa del Rey match.

Barcelona is dealing with its own injury worries, with Frenkie de Jong a doubt due to a groin problem, while Andreas Christensen is sidelined with a long-term cruciate ligament injury he sustained in December.

Gavi is still in recovery from a meniscus injury picked up earlier this season, while Pedri is out with a hamstring issue.

Raphinha is also not ready to return from a thigh injury and will miss this match.

Atletico Madrid probable starting XI:

Oblak; Blood, Public, Hancko, and Rugger; Simeon, Mendoa, Coke, Baena; Griezmann, Lookman

Barcelona probable starting XI:

Garcia; Martin, Garcia, Araujo, Cancel; Bernal, Olm, Wolf; Rashford, Towers, Yamal

Although Atletico Madrid is formidable at home and will be driven by last season’s elimination, Barcelona’s current form and attacking prowess give them a slight advantage.

The visitors have various goalscoring threats throughout their frontline, and their ability to adapt tactically during the match offers them an edge in managing shifts in momentum. In this pivotal first leg, that composure and quality in the final third may be the deciding factors between the two sides.