Barcelona's Inigo Martinez Berridi celebrates at the end of the Spanish Copa del Rey semifinal second leg at Metropolitano Stadium in Madrid, Spain, April 2, 2025. /VCG
Barcelona's Inigo Martinez Berridi celebrates at the end of the Spanish Copa del Rey semifinal second leg at Metropolitano Stadium in Madrid, Spain, April 2, 2025. /VCG
Barcelona will 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 stadium after the wild 4-4 first leg draw, and 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 in 2025, stretching their run to 21 games without defeat.
Teenage winger Lamine Yamal 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.
Atletico were the last team to triumph against Barcelona, winning before Christmas to go top of La Liga, but they now trail Hansi Flick's team by nine points with nine matches remaining.
"We can't relax, we have to keep believing and working, with humility and I'm sure good things will come," said Torres. "If a final is already a huge motivation, imagine playing against your most direct rival."
"We played really bravely here, it was not easy, especially in the second half," Flick added. "(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."
Atletico were dumped out of the 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," said Atletico defender Jose Gimenez. "We have to lift up our heads, finish the season in the best way possible and carry on. 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."
Source(s): AFP