In a dramatic night at the iconic Camp Nou, Atletico Madrid secured a memorable victory over Barcelona, booking their place in the semi-finals of the Copa del Rey. The match, played on January 24, 2024, ended 4-2 in favor of the visitors after extra time, overturning a first-leg deficit in stunning fashion.
The game began at a frantic pace. Barcelona struck first, with Robert Lewandowski finding the net in the 8th minute to give the hosts an early lead. The Polish striker doubled his tally just before the half-hour mark, scoring again in the 30th minute to seemingly put Barcelona in firm control with a 2-0 advantage on the night.
However, Atletico refused to surrender. Antoine Griezmann, facing his former club, ignited the comeback with a crucial goal in the 35th minute, sending the teams into halftime with the score at 2-1.
The second half saw Atletico continue their push for an equalizer. Their persistence paid off in the 71st minute when defender Ronald Araújo, under pressure, turned the ball into his own net, leveling the tie on aggregate and forcing an additional 30 minutes.
With the momentum firmly on their side, Diego Simeone’s men completed the turnaround in extra time. Memphis Depay, another former Barcelona player, was brought down in the area, and Álvaro Morata calmly converted the resulting penalty in the 99th minute to put Atletico ahead for the first time. The victory was sealed deep into added time of the extra period, as Rodrigo Riquelme finished a swift counter-attack in the 120+2nd minute to make it 4-2 on the night.
The final whistle confirmed Atletico Madrid’s passage to the last four, where they will join Mallorca, Real Sociedad, and Athletic Bilbao in the draw for the semi-finals. For Barcelona and manager Xavi Hernández, the defeat marks a significant setback in their quest for domestic silverware this season.
