La Liga leaders Barcelona face spirited Atletico Madrid in the semifinal stage of the Copa del Rey with the first leg hosted in Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys.
BAR vs ATL Match Details
Date: Tuesday, 25 February 2025 / Wednesday, 26 February 2025
Time: 22:00 (CET), 02:30 (IST)
Venue: Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys, Barcelona
BAR vs ATL Match Preview
Barcelona are fighting with full force to complete a historic quadruple after winning the Spanish Super Cup in January. Also leading the La Liga table despite having the same points as holders Real Madrid and reaching the last-16 stage of the Champions League by ending second in the League Phase, the Catalan giants are just two games away in the semifinal stage from reaching the Copa del Rey final. The Spanish giants are the most successful team in the competition with 31 titles but they haven't tasted success since 2020-21. Hence, Hansi Flick’s side’s desire will be more for the trophy this time as they look for complete dominance domestically. However, fellow title challenger Atletico Madrid will throw a stern challenge to the host having also been ruthless this season. Barcelona thrashed Barbastro, Real Betis and Valencia 4-0, 5-1 and 5-0 respectively to book their place in the last four, with the former result the start of a 13-game unbeaten run for the side. That form will now be tested against Diego Simeone’s team, who defeated them at the same venue in a league encounter at the end of last year. The team will rely on their immense frontline that has not failed to score since December 2024 and their five-game winning run at home to have the upper hand in the first leg.
The 2-1 last-minute comeback victory in the previous meeting was the first Atletico Madrid managed over Barcelona in an away match in 19 years. That result showed the kind of season Atleti are experiencing sitting just a point below the top spot in third and not losing a single game in any competition since January. Los Colchoneros are on an eight-game unbeaten streak including the 3-0 thrashing of Valencia away at the weekend in the league. The team has also reached the last-16 stage of the Champions League directly where they will face city rivals Real Madrid. Los Blancos are the other contender they need to beat to secure their first La Liga title since 2021, their last silverware. Winning the Copa del Rey, for the first time since 2013, will give a huge boost to the side to aim for bigger prizes to reward their campaign. The league leaders stand in their way in the semifinals having also faced them last time at the very stage in the 2016-17 season. The meeting ended in a 1-1 draw which eliminated the team from the competition, having lost 2-1 away, but they want to avoid such a scenario again.
BAR vs ATL Recent Form (all competitions)
BAR: WWWWW
ATM: WWDDW
BAR vs ATL Predicted Lineups
Barcelona
Szczesny; Kounde, Araujo, I Martinez, Balde; De Jong, Pedri; Raphinha, Olmo, Yamal; Lewandowski
Atletico Madrid
Musso; Molina, Gimenez, Le Normand, Galan; Simeone, De Paul, Barrios, Lino; Griezmann, Alvarez
BAR vs ATL Dream11 Match Prediction
It will be a closely contested match as both teams aim to avoid defeat in the first leg. Each side possesses the scoring ability but also maintains a solid defence. So a 1-1 draw in this game looks like a fair result.
BAR vs ATL Dream11 Top picks
Captain Pick: Raphinha
Vice-captain Picks: Robert Lewandowski, Lamine Yamal
BAR vs ATL Dream11 Team Suggestion
GK: Musso (Cr - 7)
DEF: Kounde (Cr - 8), Gimenez (Cr - 8.5), Balde (Cr - 7.5)
MID: Yamal (Cr - 8.5), Pedri (Cr - 8.5), Olmo (Cr - 7.5), Simeone (Cr - 8)
FW: Alvarez (Cr - 9), Lewandowski (Cr - 9), Raphinha (Cr - 9)
Vice-captain: Robert Lewandowski
Captain: Raphinha