Barcelona's comeback falls short as Atletico reach Copa del Rey final
Atletico Madrid held on despite Barcelona's 3-0 second leg victory in Copa del Rey semi-final on March 3, advancing 4-3 on aggregate. Teenage star Marc Bernal netted twice for Barcelona with Lamine Yamal assisting, while Raphinha converted a penalty. Barcelona mounted an impressive comeback from their 4-0 first leg defeat but fell just short at Camp Nou.
Diego Simeone's Atletico defended desperately in final stages, reaching the final for first time since 2013. Barcelona coach Hansi Flick moved center-back Ronald Araujo up front in search of a fourth goal that would have completed "the impossible" comeback, but Atletico goalkeeper Juan Musso made key saves.
The final will be contested between Spanish teams in Seville on April 18. Barcelona's attacking performance with young players like Bernal and Yamal shows their potential despite elimination, while Atletico's defensive resilience proved crucial for their progression.