Barcelona and Atlético sign an unforgettable night of football

The Barça-Atlético anthology series, the same one that brought to prominence players like Romario, Ronaldo, Pantic and Pizzi, was back in force with an explosive match at Montjuïc . The two teams fought without reservation, in a great and grateful way, with various alternatives, different strikers and a unique footballer like Lamine Yamal, the genius and figure of Flick's team. The stamp of the German coach's ambitious and entertaining team could not be missing, nor could the versatility and power of Cholo Simeone's squad in the carousel of dizzying matches between Barcelona and Atlético.

No one can predict how the summit will end at the Metropolitano and therefore who will reach the Cup final . The exchange of blows was so brutal that it drove the scoreboard crazy: 0-2, 4-2 and 4-4. No one speculated or negotiated a result with a view to the return leg, but both contenders did not give in on a vibrant and spectacular night, consistent with the poster that announced a great match with two great teams.

The match started 0-2. Atlético took possession and, in less than a minute, Julián Álvarez shot twice, one well-centered and solved by Szczesny, and the second straight at goal, after a corner taken by Griezmann and extended by Lenglet. The foreshortening of the Spider Álvarez was as unchallengeable as the transition he managed five minutes later to set up Griezmann. The Frenchman cut inside Balde and scored the second goal to the astonishment of Montjuïc. The explosive environmental charge ended at the entrance to a more passive stadium without the Grada d'Animació. The blaugranas could not find the ball against an Atlético as clean as effective, very comfortable with Simeone's plan.

Judging by the line-ups, the league game had an impact on the cup game because Simeone repeated the same team that won the last game by 1-2, with the exception of goalkeeper Musso, while Flick changed four players, as well as the goalkeeper once Szczesny had settled in. The Barça coach dispensed with Lewandowski to attack with two false 9s in Olmo and Ferran while keeping Araujo on the bench and bringing back De Jong for Casadó. A formation that was less aggressive and intense than usual and also fresher and more dynamic, willing to create space and not give references to Atlético's defence.

Barcelona's vulnerability was as evident in the 0-2 as was their ability to combine and to use precise touches to reach 2-2 in twenty minutes. The game changed direction in the blink of an eye thanks to the grace and courage of Barça, the direction of Pedri and the absorbing power of Lamine Yamal, to the suffering of Galán. Pedri scored after a precise cross from Koundé, excellent as a finisher in a play in which eight passes were counted, and Cubarsi equalised with a header from a corner forced by De Jong against Gallagher. Ferran, meanwhile, missed two very clear chances before and after the two goals from Flick's team.

Barcelona scored their third goal just before the break from a set-piece and also from the corner flag, when Iñigo headed in Raphinha's cross. Atlético, vulnerable with and without the ball, both in the quiet and in movement, as if there was nothing to do with two goals in their favour, were petrified when they understood that there had been a foul for blocking at 3-2. In the absence of support in midfield, the midfielders and forwards pressed, the centre-backs were accurate and Lamine unbalanced in a half hour of overflowing football from Barça. The game flowed, struck and repeatedly demanded Musso.

The Barça comeback enraged Atlético. The match was levelled after the break and also with the round of substitutions, which showed the variety of resources Simeone has at his disposal. Sorloth and Correa appeared after Griezmann forced a commendable intervention from Szczesny. The match opened up, the excitement increased in both areas and Lamine once again made the difference with an assist for Lewandowski. Reinildo could not stop Lamine's assortment of dribbles and nutmegs. Atlético's final response, however, was as forceful as Barça's at the start because the red-and-whites did not stop until Llorente and in the last play Sorloth - just like in the League - made it 4-4. The risk paid off in a crazy match that was consistent with the epic of the Cup and Barça-Atlético.