MADRID, Feb 12: Barcelona will play Atletico Madrid in the Copa del Rey semi-finals after they were paired together in the draw on Wednesday, and Real Madrid will face Real Sociedad in the other last-four clash.
Barca will host Atletico in the first leg on February 25 while Real Madrid will travel to Real Sociedad the next day on February 26.
Real and Atletico host the second legs in the Spanish capital on April 1 and 2, respectively.
The last time Barca and Atleti met in the cup semis was in 2017, with the Catalan giants knocked out Diego Simeone’s team 3-2 on aggregate.
“I think it’s a very difficult game, we’re going to face one of the most in-form teams of the season,” Atletico captain Koke told reporters.
“It’s going to be a great semi-final, let’s hope Atletico go through. The first game is key. We have our weapons and we hope to play a good game in the first leg and then close the tie well at home.”The draw left open the possibility of a Clasico between Real and Barca in the Cup final, something that has not happened for over a decade.
Real and Barca have met in the Copa del Rey final on 18 occasions with Real leading the rivalry with 11 wins, including a 2-1 triumph in the 2014 final in Valencia.
Barcelona thrashed Real both times they met this season, a 4-0 win at Santiago Bernabeu in LaLiga in October and a 5-2 victory in the Spanish Super Cup final in Saudi Arabia in January.Real are top of the LaLiga standings with 50 points, one ahead of Atletico, with third-placed Barcelona one further back in the title race.
With both semi-final ties promising high-stakes drama, Spanish football fans are in for a thrilling ride. The prospect of a potential Clasico final adds an extra layer of excitement, rekindling memories of their fierce battles in years past. But before that, Barcelona and Atletico Madrid will lock horns in what promises to be a fiercely contested clash, while Real Madrid face a tricky test against an unpredictable Real Sociedad. As the season’s business end approaches, all four sides will be eager to not only secure a spot in the final but also gain momentum in the closely fought LaLiga title race. (Reuters)
