Atletico Madrid tore Barcelona apart with four first-half goals to secure a 4-0 victory on Thursday (February 12, 2026) in the first leg of their Copa del Rey semi-final, leaving the holders staring at a near impossible task in the return match.Diego Simeone's side needed only 45 minutes at home to seize control of the tie, capitalising on a calamitous early error before carving Hansi Flick's team open at will to move to the brink of April's final in Seville. Atletico took the lead in the sixth minute in extraordinary fashion. Barcelona defender Eric Garcia rolled a routine pass back, but goalkeeper Joan Garcia, already scanning upfield, allowed the ball to slip under his boot and towards goal. His desperate dive came too late as it had crossed the line.Lookman, Alvarez combine
Instead, Atletico struck again before halftime. Lookman and Alvarez combined once more, the Englishman sliding a pass into the centre for the Argentine to unleash a strike into the top corner from just inside the box.
Barcelona dominated possession with 70% in the first half, but it was Atletico's clinical transitions that did the damage.
Atletico goalkeeper Juan Musso denied Fermin Lopez early in the second half as Barca searched for a lifeline before the March 3 return leg at Camp No
