Barcelona are to face rivals Real Madrid in the Copa del Rey final after Ferran Torres secured them a 1-0 win at Atletico Madrid on Wednesday, progressing 5-4 on aggregate from the semi-final tie.
Record 31-time winners Barca had the better of the clash at the Metropolitano after the wild 4-4 first-leg draw. The defeat leaves Diego Simeone’s Atletico with little to play for in the rest of the season.
By contrast, the Catalans are on the hunt for a potential quadruple and are unbeaten this year, stretching their run to 21 games without defeat.
Photo: AFP
Atletico were the last team to triumph against Barcelona, winning before Christmas last year to go top of La Liga, but they now trail Hansi Flick’s team by nine points with nine matches remaining.
“We cannot relax, we have to keep believing and working, with humility and I’m sure good things will come,” Torres told Movistar.
Madrid ousted Real Sociedad 5-4 on aggregate as well after a 4-4 draw on Tuesday at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Flick brought winger Raphinha back into Barcelona’s starting lineup and the hosts tried to shut him down through fair means or foul.
Cesar Azpilicueta was booked for one tackle, surviving a video assistant referee review for a potential red card, while Rodrigo de Paul was also cautioned for going in hard on the Brazilian.
Teenage winger Lamine Yamal ran the show on the other flank for Barcelona, firing wide and teeing up Jules Kounde, who bypassed Robin Le Normand with some neat juggling before lashing over.
The 17-year-old played in Torres for Barcelona’s opener with a well-weighted pass, finished clinically by the former Manchester City forward, who has earned more minutes with his recent performances.
Yamal mishit a shot himself from a good position in the box, while Atletico goalkeeper Juan Musso denied Raphinha at his near post.
Simeone brought on Alexander Sorloth among three changes at the break, after he scored three goals in the three previous meetings between these sides this season.
Perhaps convinced he would make it four in four, Sorloth fired narrowly wide early in the second half with Antoine Griezmann open and ready for a simple finish.
At the other end, Raphinha forced another save from Musso, but was himself guilty of not squaring for Fermin Lopez.
Sorloth rattled home what he thought for a few seconds was an equalizer, but he had strayed offside.
With Atletico ascendant, Flick brought on Robert Lewandowski for Torres, but the Polish veteran struggled to get involved.
With four minutes of stoppage-time added on Atletico turned the screw, with Musso coming up for a late De Paul free-kick, but Barcelona held off the hosts to progress.
“We played really bravely here, it was not easy, especially in the second half,” Flick told Barca One.
“[The job] is not done, we’re fighting, we’re trying everything to win titles and we’re in a good way, the team is doing great,” he said.
Atletico were dumped out of the UEFA Champions League on penalties by rivals Real Madrid in the last 16 and the Copa represented their most realistic chance of silverware this season.
“We have to thank the fans who supported us, we’re as sad as them,” Atletico defender Jose Gimenez said.
“We have to lift up our heads, finish the season in the best way possible and carry on,” he said.
“We have to accept the reality, with rational thinking and knowing we’re a long way off [the top of La Liga], but we’ll try until the end,” he added.
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