Simeone’s men run riot in first half as defending champions suffer their heaviest defeat of the season
There was supposed to be a title defence. Instead, there was a surrender.
Barcelona arrived at the Metropolitano as Copa del Rey holders. They left with their tails between their legs, a 4-0 scoreline etched against their name, and a mountain far too steep for even these eternal optimists to climb.
It took seven minutes for things to unravel. Eric Garcia, trying to be careful on a bobbling pitch, rolled a pass back toward goalkeeper Joan Garcia. The ball hit a divot, skipped under the keeper’s foot, and trickled over the line. Ademola Lookman followed it in for good measure, but the damage was already done. Own goal. One-nil. Cue the Metropolitano roar.
By half-time, it was four.
Antoine Griezmann, never one to pass up an opportunity against his former employers, slid home the second after Barcelona’s high line was carved open like a Christmas ham. Lookman, all composure and ice, steered in the third following a team move that had Diego Simeone sprinting down the touchline like a man half his age.
And then Julian Alvarez, goalless in 11 games, finally broke his drought with a thunderbolt from the edge of the box.
Four shots on target in the first half. Four goals.
Barcelona did have their moments. Fermin Lopez cracked the crossbar. Jules Kounde cleared one off the line. But this was not a night for consolation prizes. It was a mugging, plain and simple.
The second half offered little respite. Pau Cubarsi thought he’d pulled one back, only for VAR to intervene and rule it out for offside after an agonisingly long review. Then, in the dying minutes, Eric Garcia’s night went from bad to worse. Ferran Torres sold him short with a pass, Alex Baena pounced, and Garcia’s clumsy challenge earned him a second yellow. Off he trudged. Off went any remaining hope.
Alexander Sorloth and Ferran Torres both spurned late chances at either end, the game refusing to slow its heartbeat even as the clock ran down. But the damage was done long before.
For Atletico, this was not just a win. This was a statement. Adrift in La Liga and not quite convincing in Europe, the Copa del Rey has become their great hope. And if they play like this again, it might just become their trophy.
The second leg awaits at Camp Nou on March 3. Barcelona, 32-time winners of this competition, will need a miracle.
Across town on Wednesday, Real Sociedad took a slender 1-0 lead into their semi-final against Athletic Bilbao. But that felt like a different sport entirely.
This? This was a beating.
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