Barcelona Stunned! Sorloth’s Last-Minute Strike Torments Them in a Wild 4-4 Copa Classic

A Thrilling 4-4 Draw Leaves Semi-Final Clash Wide Open

Barcelona and Atletico Madrid delivered one of the most entertaining matches of the season, playing out a dramatic 4-4 draw in the first leg of their Copa del Rey semi-final at the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys. In a game full of twists and turns, both teams took turns leading by two goals before settling for an eight-goal thriller, leaving everything to play for in the second leg in April.

The match showcased end-to-end football, defensive lapses, and moments of brilliance from both sides, with Barcelona extending their unbeaten streak to 14 games in all competitions. Atletico, meanwhile, showed their fighting spirit and ability to respond under pressure, making this one of the most exciting encounters in recent Copa del Rey history.

Atletico Madrid’s Explosive Start Shocks Barcelona

The visitors stunned the home crowd by taking the lead inside the opening minute. Atletico wasted no time in showing their attacking intent, as Antoine Griezmann sent a teasing cross into the box. Clement Lenglet, who was making a rare start, nodded the ball toward the back post, where Julian Alvarez reacted quickest to poke it past Wojciech Szczesny.

Just five minutes later, Atletico doubled their advantage. Alvarez, once again at the heart of the action, pressed high up the pitch and dispossessed Barcelona’s midfield before sliding a perfect through ball to Griezmann. The French forward, facing his former club, displayed remarkable composure as he slotted the ball past Szczesny, giving Atletico a commanding 2-0 lead.

Hansi Flick’s side, clearly frustrated, struggled to contain Atletico’s high press and quick transitions. However, Barcelona did not take long to find their way back into the game, responding with a flurry of goals before halftime.

Barcelona’s Quickfire Comeback Stuns Atletico

Despite their early struggles, Barcelona’s attacking quality soon took over. In the 19th minute, Jules Koundé picked out Pedri with a smart cutback inside the box, and the midfielder calmly guided the ball into the bottom corner to reduce the deficit.

Barcelona’s momentum continued just two minutes later when they found their equalizer. A well-delivered corner from Raphinha found Pau Cubarsi at the far post, and the young defender rose highest to nod the ball past Jan Oblak, making it 2-2.

As the hosts continued to push forward, they took the lead just before the break. Inigo Martinez replicated Cubarsi’s goal, heading home another Raphinha corner to complete a remarkable first-half turnaround. With Barcelona now leading 3-2, the atmosphere inside the stadium shifted, as the home side looked set to take control of the tie.

Atletico’s Second-Half Response

Atletico Madrid came out in the second half determined to level the score, and they nearly did so within minutes of the restart. Rodrigo De Paul split Barcelona’s defense with a perfectly weighted pass to Griezmann, but Szczesny reacted well to deny the Frenchman a second goal.

Barcelona continued to threaten, with Lamine Yamal weaving through Atletico’s backline before being brought down in the box. However, his appeals for a penalty were waved away by the referee.

FC Barcelona 4⃣-4⃣ Atlètic de Madrid pic.twitter.com/Kjtm6d1LdX

— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona_cat) February 25, 2025

Atletico remained dangerous on the break and thought they had equalized midway through the second half when Angel Correa played Marcos Llorente through on goal. Llorente squared the ball to Alexander Sorloth, who fired into the net, but the goal was ruled out for offside.

Their frustration was further compounded just moments later when Barcelona struck again. Yamal, who had been relatively quiet for most of the match, showcased his dribbling skills with a dazzling run into the box before laying the ball off to substitute Robert Lewandowski for an easy tap-in.

With a 4-2 lead and just 15 minutes remaining, it seemed like Barcelona had secured a crucial advantage. However, Atletico had other plans.

Late Drama as Atletico Salvage a Draw

Atletico refused to give up and continued to push forward. In the 78th minute, Llorente found space inside the box and drilled a low shot into the far corner, bringing the score to 4-3.

As the clock ticked into stoppage time, Barcelona looked set to see out the game. However, Atletico had one final twist in store. In a moment of pure chaos inside the penalty area, Sorloth pounced on a loose ball and slotted home the equalizer, stunning the Barcelona faithful.

The dramatic goal sealed an unforgettable 4-4 draw, ensuring that the second leg in April will be a must-watch encounter.

What’s Next?

While the Copa del Rey semi-final remains finely balanced, both teams will now turn their attention to La Liga, where they are still in contention for the title. Interestingly, Barcelona and Atletico will meet again in the league before their second-leg showdown, setting up another thrilling contest between these two Spanish powerhouses.

With the first leg producing a goal-fest, fans can expect another exciting battle in the return fixture, as both teams fight for a place in the Copa del Rey final.

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