Barca vs Atletico Madrid: Copa del Rey semifinal first leg kicks off today in Madrid
Two heavyweights collide as Barcelona visit Atletico Madrid in the first leg of the Copa del Rey semifinals on Thursday, February 12, 2026, with kickoff set for 3:00 p.m. ET at the Metropolitano. The tie brings together the current La Liga leaders and a mercurial Atletico side seeking a return to the final.
Kickoff, venue, and stakes
The opening 90 minutes of this two-leg semifinal arrives in the Spanish capital, where a raucous Metropolitano crowd typically fuels a front-foot start from the hosts. A strong result in Madrid is vital for Atletico, who have thrived in this competition but have not lifted the trophy since the 2012-13 campaign. Barcelona enter as defending champions and aim to carry their league-leading momentum into cup play. The winner across two legs will advance to a final many expect to be decided by the margins, with the other semifinal featuring Athletic Bilbao and Real Sociedad.
Form snapshot: surging Barça, streaky Atleti
Barcelona’s run has been relentless. The Catalans sit atop the La Liga table and have won 17 of their last 18 matches in all competitions, including a convincing 3-0 victory over Mallorca at the weekend, with Robert Lewandowski, Lamine Yamal, and Marc Bernal on the scoresheet. This is the type of groove that powers deep cup runs, and it underpins the visitors’ confidence heading into Madrid.
Atletico, meanwhile, have been a study in contrasts. A blistering 5-0 quarterfinal demolition of Real Betis showcased their top gear, only for a narrow league defeat to the same opponent in Madrid days later to highlight lingering inconsistency. That oscillation has defined their season: devastating when the press clicks and transitions flow, vulnerable when rhythm breaks and midfield control slips.
Team news and absences
Barcelona travel with a lengthy injury list. Gavi, Pedri, Raphinha, Marcus Rashford, and Andreas Christensen are all ruled out. Even with that attrition, the visitors have remained efficient and adaptable, with the midfield balance anchored by Frenkie de Jong and the attack buoyed by Lewandowski’s movement and Yamal’s width and creativity.
Atletico are without Johnny Cardoso and Pablo Barrios, while Nico González is a doubt. The Barrios absence looms largest. His press resistance and distribution are difficult to replicate, and his loss could tilt central control toward Barcelona if the hosts cannot compensate with collective intensity and clear passing angles.
Key tactical questions
How Atletico press, and for how long, may define the night. A proactive start has paid dividends at the Metropolitano, but with Barrios sidelined, maintaining precision through the middle will be a test. January arrival Ademola Lookman brings direct running and end-product threat from wide areas, providing a valuable outlet on counters and secondary runs beyond the striker. The form of Julián Álvarez, currently searching for his sharpest edge, is another pivot point; if he links efficiently and draws defenders out of shape, Atleti’s wide threats can attack the gaps.
For Barcelona, the equation is about control and incision. De Jong’s tempo-setting and line-breaking carries, combined with Yamal’s 1v1 threat and Lewandowski’s penalty-area craft, are the pillars of their approach. The visitors will look to stretch Atletico horizontally, isolate fullbacks, and create third-man runs from midfield. Efficiency on set pieces could also matter in a tie where margins are thin.
Recent meetings and historical undertones
These sides met earlier this season in Barcelona, a game that swung decisively after an early Atletico lead. Barcelona struck three times and could have added more in a performance that blended patience with ruthless finishing. There is also a recent cup memory here: Barcelona won 1-0 at this same venue in last season’s semifinal, a result that underscored their comfort absorbing pressure and striking in pivotal moments.
Outlook: first-leg balance likely
The first chapter of this semifinal feels poised on a knife’s edge. Barcelona arrive as the sharper, steadier side, yet Atletico’s home edge and capacity to spike in performance—especially in knockout football—narrow the gap. Expect a nervy, tactical battle decided by turnovers and transitions, with both managers managing risk as much as they chase reward.
A low-scoring draw would not surprise, setting up a finely poised return leg in Barcelona. If either attack finds an early breakthrough, game state will drive the tenor: Atletico will push and open lanes if trailing; Barcelona will slow and stretch the field if in front. Either way, the tie should remain alive when it shifts to Catalonia—and that is precisely how two giants often script it.
Kickoff: Thursday, February 12, 2026, 3:00 p.m. ET. Venue: Metropolitano, Madrid.
