Barcelona secured a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Atletico Madrid on Wednesday to book its place in the Copa del Rey final for the first time in four seasons.
Ferran Torres netted the decisive first-half goal, sealing a 5-4 aggregate win after the first leg ended in a dramatic 4-4 draw in Barcelona back in February.
With this victory, Barcelona sets up a highly anticipated El Clasico final against Real Madrid, marking their first Copa del Rey showdown since the 2013-14 season, when Madrid lifted the trophy.
Real Madrid secured its spot in the final by defeating Real Sociedad in extra time on Tuesday, also advancing 5-4 on aggregate.
Barcelona, the most successful club in Copa del Rey history with 31 titles, has reached the final for the first time since 2021, when it triumphed over Athletic Bilbao. Meanwhile, Real Madrid, eyeing its 21st Copa del Rey title, last won the competition in 2023 against Osasuna.
The final, scheduled for April 26 in Seville, will be the third El Clasico of the season. Barcelona dominated their previous encounters, winning 4-0 in La Liga and 5-2 in the Spanish Super Cup final.
For Atletico Madrid, it was another frustrating home exit. Diego Simeone’s side was aiming for its first Copa del Rey final appearance since 2013, when it defeated Real Madrid to lift its 10th title. Atletico had fought back in the first leg with two late goals after squandering a 2-0 lead, but Barcelona proved too strong in the return fixture.
Torres found the net in the 27th minute, finishing off a perfectly timed pass from Lamine Yamal inside the box. Atletico striker Alexander Sorloth had a goal ruled out for offside in the 69th minute, crushing the home team’s hopes of a comeback.
With Barcelona and Real Madrid set to clash in the Copa del Rey final, football fans can expect another thrilling chapter in this historic rivalry. The two Spanish giants could also meet later in the Champions League, adding more excitement to an already electrifying season.
