Barcelona receives ‘instruction’ from Atlético Madrid in Copa defeat

Barcelona manager Hansi Flick stated that his team was given a lesson by Atlético Madrid following a 4-0 defeat at the Metropolitano on Thursday in the first leg of the Copa del Rey semifinal between the two clubs.

All four goals were scored in the first half, beginning with an own goal from Eric García, followed by goals from Antoine Griezmann, Ademola Lookman, and Julián Álvarez, which secured a decisive win for Atlético.

The second leg is scheduled to occur at Spotify Camp Nou on March 3, with the victors set to face either Real Sociedad or Athletic Club in the final.

“As a team, we did not perform well in the first half,” Flick remarked during the post-match press conference. “There was too much space between the players. We did not press as we intended.

“In the first 45 minutes or more, we received a lesson. Sometimes, this can be beneficial at the right time. Perhaps today was that moment.

“I remain proud of my team, perhaps not for the first 45 minutes today, but throughout the entire season. Considering the number of injuries we have faced, how we have adapted… Today was a significant loss, but I am proud of my team.

“We will rebound. We need to start strong [in games]. When observing Atlético players, they exhibited more determination and desire. This is what I expect from the first minute. We did not demonstrate that in the first half.

“We have the second leg ahead. We will strive for that. If we can win each half 2-0, that is our objective. We need our supporters at Camp Nou, and we will see what unfolds.”

The tone for the first half was established when García’s back pass slipped under goalkeeper Joan García’s foot, leading to an Atlético surge.

Griezmann completed a well-executed team play in the 14th minute, Lookman netted his second goal for his new team at the half-hour mark, and Álvarez concluded an 11-game goal drought by scoring Atlético’s fourth goal in first half stoppage time.

Barça showed improvement after halftime and believed they had scored in the 51st minute, only for a Pau Cubarsí attempt to be disallowed for offside after a review that lasted over six minutes.

This decision angered Flick, who expressed his frustration when asked about the officiating, criticizing the referees for being overly lenient with Atlético’s challenges early in the match and expressing his discontent regarding the disallowed goal.

“What can I say?” Flick exclaimed. “We begin with yellow cards. Typically, in the first action, with the foul on [Alejandro] Balde, it should be a yellow card, [without a doubt].

“And then everything might be different. But he encouraged them to play this way. So it is entirely different.

“[Regarding the disallowed goal], come on, for me it’s a mess. They took seven minutes to decide, oh come on. Did they find something in those seven minutes? Fine.

“When I observe this situation, it was clearly no offside. Perhaps they saw something different. Then inform us. There is no communication. It is very poor here.”

Barça’s difficulties were further exacerbated late in the match when García received a red card for a last-man challenge on Álex Baena, leaving the visiting team to finish the last five minutes plus 10 minutes of stoppage time with 10 players.

Both teams will next return to LaLiga, with league leaders Barça set to visit Girona on Monday and Atlético traveling to Rayo Vallecano on Sunday.