Barcelona and Atlético de Madrid deliver a thrilling draw in the Copa del Rey

Barcelona and Atletico Madrid overturned two-goal deficits to settle a frantic 4-4 draw in the first leg of their Copa del Rey semi-finals.

Goals from Julián Álvarez and Antoine Griezmann put Atlético 2-0 ahead in the first six minutes of the game, but Barça responded with four goals. The last word belonged to the Colchoneros, who levelled the game with goals in the last 10 minutes, including substitute Alexander Sorloth's equaliser in the third minute of added time.

“It was crazy,” said Álvarez, summing up what was a hectic game at the Olympic stadium in Montjuïc. “We knew it wasn’t going to be an easy game, they are one of the best teams… Everything is very close.”

The “Spider” Álvarez appeared alone at the far post to tip the ball in and open the scoring in the first minute and Griezmann increased the lead in the sixth after a counterattack started when the Argentine Álvarez stole the ball in his own half.

The home team reacted to equalise in the 21st minute thanks to goals from Pedri and Pau Cubarsí, both two minutes apart.

The Catalan club took a 3-2 lead at half-time after Iñigo Martínez's goal in the 41st minute. Robert Lewandowski doubled the lead in the 74th minute.

Atlético came close with a goal from Marcos Llorente in the 84th minute and Sorloth sealed the tie with a shot from point-blank range.

“We work hard to endure and always be in the game, and the team shows it,” said Álvarez.

The return leg will be played at Atlético's Metropolitano stadium in April.

“The taste in our mouths is bad because we went 4-2 up,” lamented Pedri. “We had to be smarter with the ball and that’s something we have to improve for the return leg.”