This Tuesday, Barcelona and Atlético Madrid will face off in the first leg of their Copa del Rey semifinal at the Estadio Olímpico Lluís Companys in Montjuïc, at 3:30 PM ET. Both teams are in great form, with Barça leading LaLiga and playing brilliant football under the guidance of Hansi Flick. However, Atlético, who beat Barcelona in December, will look to cause an upset and continue dreaming of the cup title.

Barcelona’s Strong Moment

Barcelona enters this semifinal on an impressive run of 11 wins and 2 draws in 2025, which has restored confidence after a somewhat shaky start to the season. Hansi Flick trusts his players, especially Dani Olmo, who could start after his standout performance against Las Palmas. Additionally, the presence of stars like Lewandowski and Pedri strengthens their attack.

Atlético Madrid’s Challenge

On the other hand, Atlético Madrid, led by Diego Simeone, has had a solid season, with just one loss in their last 24 official matches. Although they will be without Koke and César Azpilicueta due to injuries, the Atlético squad has plenty of quality, with Griezmann and Álvarez leading the attack, and a solid defense anchored by José María Giménez and Robin Le Normand.

In the pre-match press conference, Simeone emphasized the quality of Barcelona and the challenge ahead: "It will be a match divided into two halves, one at their ground and one at ours. There will be moments when you have to endure." The Atlético coach also acknowledged Barça’s attacking strength and highlighted the importance of managing the game’s different moments: "We compete in the way we know, and we must be prepared for all situations."

Moreover, Flick, who turned 60 years old this Monday, is confident that his team will learn from their loss in December and make better use of attacking opportunities: "What we need to do is improve, be more efficient, and take advantage of those situations we missed in December," he said. Regarding Atlético, he commented: "They are a very competitive team, with a lot of experience, and it’s going to be a very difficult match. They defend very well and are dangerous on the counter."

This match, which is just the first leg of a two-legged tie that will be decided in April at the Metropolitano, could be decisive for both teams in the Copa del Rey, as well as their aspirations in LaLiga and the Champions League. Emotions will be running high, and everything is set for a high-level football night in Montjuïc.