Barcelona face rivals Atletico Madrid in Copa del Rey semi final showdown

In a highly anticipated Copa del Rey semi-final first leg, Barcelona will host Atletico Madrid on Tuesday evening at the Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys.

Barcelona holds the record for the most Copa del Rey titles, having lifted the trophy 31 times, while Atletico Madrid, with 10 victories, ranks fourth in the competition's history, trailing behind Athletic Bilbao and Real Madrid. Although the Copa del Rey may not be Barcelona's top priority this season-given their current lead in La Liga and progression to the last 16 of the Champions League-the Catalan club is eager to reclaim the trophy, last won in the 2020-21 season.

The Blaugrana have shown impressive form leading up to this semi-final, defeating Barbastro, Real Betis, and Valencia to reach this stage, netting 14 goals along the way. They come into the match riding a 13-game unbeaten streak across all competitions, including a recent 2-0 victory over Las Palmas that keeps them at the summit of La Liga, edging out Real Madrid on goal difference.

Looking ahead, Barcelona will face Real Sociedad in La Liga next weekend before traveling to Portugal for their Champions League clash against Benfica. Their strong performances in Europe have positioned them as favorites for the prestigious title, but they will first need to navigate this critical semi-final.

Atletico Madrid, under the guidance of Diego Simeone, is also enjoying a successful season. They remain firmly in the title race, sitting third in La Liga, just one point behind Barcelona. Following a commanding 3-0 win over Valencia, Atletico is unbeaten in their last eight matches across all competitions. They too have a busy schedule ahead, with a La Liga matchup against Athletic Bilbao and a Champions League tie against Real Madrid looming.

While the Copa del Rey may not be Atletico's primary focus, the team aims to secure the trophy, having last won it in 2013. Earlier this season, Atletico triumphed over Barcelona in a La Liga encounter, breaking a five-match losing streak against their rivals.

This semi-final marks the first Copa del Rey meeting between the two clubs since the 2016-17 season, when Barcelona advanced with a 3-2 aggregate victory. Atletico has not defeated Barcelona in this tournament since April 2000, adding to the stakes of this matchup.

In terms of team news, Barcelona is monitoring the fitness of young star Lamine Yamal, who sustained a foot injury in the last match but is expected to be available. Andreas Christensen could also return to the squad, while Marc Bernal and Marc-Andre ter Stegen will miss out. Head coach Hansi Flick is likely to make several changes to the lineup, with potential inclusions of Dani Olmo, Frenkie de Jong, Inigo Martinez, and Ronald Araujo.

Ferran Torres, who shone with a hat trick against Valencia in the previous round, may find himself starting on the bench as competition for places heats up.

Atletico, for their part, is set to bring in Juan Musso as their Copa del Rey goalkeeper. Midfielder Pablo Barrios, returning from suspension, is expected to feature, while Koke's availability remains uncertain. Julian Alvarez, who scored twice in the last match, will lead the attack, with Alexander Sorloth likely starting as a substitute.