Atletico Madrid scored four first-half goals to eliminate Barcelona and Diego Simeone’s side gave themselves a commanding lead in the semi-final at the Metropolitano Stadium.

An awful own goal 🤯

Atletico Madrid take an early lead after a big mistake from Joan Garcia 😬 pic.twitter.com/aEBpuFYDay

— ITV Football (@itvfootball) February 12, 2026

In a surprise end to Barca’s six-match winning streak in all competitions, visiting goalkeeper John Garcia miscontrolled regular Erik Garcia’s backpass to score an own goal in the sixth minute before Antoine Griezmann headed in Nahuel Molina’s pass in the 14th minute.

Barcelona is a nightmare 😳

Antoine Griezmann completes a fine 2-0 win over Atletico Madrid ⚽️⚽️ pic.twitter.com/4DYdVUF7vU

— ITV Football (@itvfootball) February 12, 2026

Fermin Lopez fired against the crossbar for the La Liga leaders, who needed Jules Kaunde to clear the line from Julian Alvarez, only for Ademola Lookman to make the scoreline 3-0 after 33 minutes.

Ademola Lookman makes it three 🔴⚪️

Atlético Madrid are destroying Barcelona 🤯 pic.twitter.com/2ouSjFJh49

— ITV Football (@itvfootball) February 12, 2026

Lookman teed up Julian Alvarez to fire in the fourth in extra time before the break, a mistake to give Atletico Madrid a sixth-minute lead against Barcelona as the La Liga teams met at the Metropolitano in the first leg of their Copa del Rey semifinal on Thursday.

Julian Alvarez’s goal drought ends and Atletico Madrid lead 4-0 👊

Barcelona’s nightmate continues… 😬 pic.twitter.com/H4NhCWmJZO

— ITV Football (@itvfootball) February 12, 2026

You can also view Copa del Rey match statistics here.

More to follow

Atletico Madrid confirm starting squad against Barcelona

Marc Pubil returned to Atleti after missing Sunday’s 1-0 home defeat to Betis in La Liga due to illness.

Simone is loving it 😆

Atletico Madrid’s manager runs down the touchline after Lookman’s 3-0 win over Barcelona 👀 pic.twitter.com/nRiEXOoPFs

— ITV Football (@itvfootball) February 12, 2026

The visitors made four changes, including starting goal for Juan Musso in place of Jan Oblak. Nahuel Molina joined Pubil in defense and Antoine Griezmann in attack.

Barcelona pulls one back through Pau Cubarsi ⚽️

Or they… 👀 pic.twitter.com/Ni6zBgKSTv

— ITV Football (@itvfootball) February 12, 2026

Jose Maria Gimenez, Thiago Almada and Rodri Mendoza went to the bench. Johnny Cardoso was out with a muscle injury and Pablo had a thigh problem.

Atletico Madrid Starting XI: Juan Musso, Nahuel Molina, Marc Pubil, David Hanko, Matteo Ruggeri, Giuliano Simeone, Marcos Llorente, Koke, Ademola Lookman, Antoine Griezmann, Julian Alvarez

athletes Substitute: Salvi Esquivel, Jose Maria Gimenez, Rodrigo Mendoza, Alexander Sorloth, Alex Baena, Thiago Almada, Jan Oblak, Clement Langlet, Obed Vargas, Nico Gonzalez, Robin Le Normand

After an 8-minute VAR check, Barcelona have scored their goal ❌

Is this the longest review in Spanish football? 🤔 pic.twitter.com/uAKcjRghyb

— ITV Football (@itvfootball) February 12, 2026

Barcelona confirm starting squad against Atletico Madrid

Midfielder Frankie de Jong was a doubt with a groin problem but was the Barca captain, who made two changes from Saturday’s 3-0 home win over Mallorca.

England striker Marcus Rashford had a knee problem and was replaced by Ferran Torres, while De Jong – who was an unused substitute – came on for Robert Lewandowski, who was on the bench.

Defender Andreas Christensen and forward Rafinha were injured, as were midfielders Gavi and Pedri.

Barcelona Starting XI: John Garcia, Jules Kaunde, Pau Cubarsi, Eric Garcia, Alejandro Balde, Marc Casado, Frankie de Jong, Fermin Lopez, Lamin Yamal, Fern Torres, Danny Olmo

Barca Subs: Wojciech Szczesny, Joao Cancelo, Ronald Araujo, Robert Lewandowski, Gerard Martin, Rooney Bergdzi, Marc Bernal, Joffrey Torrents, Diego Kochen, Juan Hernandez, Tomas Marx

Atletico Madrid vs Barcelona Stats

• Barca have won the Copa del Rey more times than anyone else (32 to Athletic Club’s 24 and Real Madrid’s 20) and have reached the final the most times (43 to Real Madrid’s 41).
• In 14 of their previous 20 meetings with Spanish sides, they scored at least three goals each time.
• 1-0 home defeat by Leganes on 15 December 2024 Barcelona Failed to score against the Spanish club
• In third place in La Liga, Atleti reached a score of one win from four matches in all competitions (D1 L2).
• They are the fourth most successful team in Copa del Rey history, having won the competition 10 times
• Atleti have failed to reach the final since their triumph in 2012/13, although they have reached two of their four semi-finals in the last two seasons.
• In a thrilling semi-final last season, Atleti led 2-0 after six minutes in the first leg at Barca before falling behind 4-2 before eventually drawing 4-4 ​​thanks to Alexander Sorloth’s 93rd-minute equaliser.
• Ferran Torres scored the only goal in the second leg, as Barça beat Real Madrid 3–2 after extra time in the final.
• Since their first meeting in the competition in 1924/25, the teams have met in 25 knockout ties.
• Barcelona have progressed 15 times to Atleti’s 10
• In each of the last four Copa meetings (2009, 2015, 2017 and 2025), Barca have advanced and gone on to lift the trophy.

What’s next for these teams? Atletico Madrid, Barcelona fixtures

Atleti visit relegation-threatened Rayo Vallecano League on Sunday (15:15), a day before Barca travel to midtable Girona (20:00).

The second leg of the semi-final is on March 3 (20:00).