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Atletico Madrid and Barcelona have named their starting sides for Thursday’s Copa del Rey semifinal first leg.
Atleti won 5–0 over Real Betis in the quarter-finals, including a stunning goal by new signing Ademola Lookman.
Barca won 2-1 at second-tier Albacete and the holders reached a run of 17 wins in their last 18 games in all competitions.
101GreatGoals.com has confirmed teams from Atleti vs Barcelona. You can also follow live text updates of Copa del Rey matches here.
Atletico Madrid confirm starting squad against Barcelona
Marc Pubil returns to Atleti after missing Sunday’s 1-0 home defeat to Betis in La Liga due to illness.
The visitors make five changes. Johnny Cardoso is out with a muscle injury and Pablo has a thigh problem.
Atletico Madrid Starting XI: Musso, Molina, Pubil, Hanko, Ruggeri, Simeone, Llorente, Koke, Lookman, Griezmann, Alvarez
athletes Substitute: to follow
Barcelona confirm starting squad against Atletico Madrid
Midfielder Frankie de Jong is doubtful with a groin problem but the Barca captain.
Defender Andreas Christensen and forward Rafinha are injured, as are midfielders Gavi and Pedri. England striker Marcus Rashford has a knee problem.
Barcelona Starting XI: John Garcia, Kaunde, Cubarci, Eric Garcia, Balde, De Jong, Casado, Lopez, Lamin Yamal, Torres, Olmo
Barca Subs: Szczesny, Kochen, Araujo, Martín, Cancelo, Torrents, Marques, Bernal, Hernandez, Bardghji, Lewandowski
How to Watch Atleti vs Barcelona: Live Online Stream, TV Channel
Kick-off is on Thursday at 20:00 GMT (15:00 ET / 12:00 PT) with live coverage in the UK on ITV4.
Fans can stream the action ITV’s website and the ITVX app, available on a variety of devices for on-the-go viewing.
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 last 20 meetings with Spanish sides, they have scored at least three goals
- 1-0 home defeat by Leganes on 15 December 2024 Barcelona Failed to score against the Spanish club
- Third in La Liga, Atleti’s win at Betis is their only win in their last four matches (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 in La Liga on Sunday (15:15), a day before Barca travel to midtable Girona (20:00).
