Barcelona 1-1 Atletico Madrid: Copa del Rey match report
Barcelona will face Celta or Alaves in the Copa final after edging past Atletico Madrid in a semi-final second leg that saw three red cardsNigeria B - Atlético Madrid: friendly
Barcelona 1-1 Atletico Madrid (3-2 agg)
Copa del Rey holders Barcelona will contest their fourth straight final after edging past Atletico Madrid in a thrilling semi-final second leg on Tuesday night.
It was a game that had everything: goals, a wrongly disallowed strike, a missed penalty, three red cards - in short, an evening of high drama right up to the end.
Atleti enjoy better of first 45 but hosts score late on in half
Looking to overturn a 2-1 deficit from last week's first leg - despite not having won at the Camp Nou for 11 years - Atletico dominated for much of the first half, but went into the break behind on the night and further down on aggregate.
Having proved unable to take their chances - particularly when Yannick Carrasco saw his close-range shot saved by Jasper Cillessen - Atleti were punished as Miguel Angel Moya parried Leo Messi's low effort and Luis Suarez fired in the rebound.
Roberto off, Atleti goal incorrectly disallowed
A topsy-turvy second 45 then saw Barça full-back Sergi Roberto pick up a second yellow card to hand Atletico renewed hope on the hour mark, before Antoine Griezmann found the net for Los Rojiblancos soon after.
However, his fine finish was wrongly chalked off for offside.
Ten against ten as Carrasco sees second yellow
And when Carrasco evened up the numbers after being dismissed for a second booking ten minutes later, Barça looked to be firmly back in the driving seat.
Messi almost put the home team out of sight with a wonderfully struck free-kick that bounced back off Moya's bar, but Atletico weren't done.
Gameiro spurns penalty, scores moments after
On 80 minutes, Gerard Pique was adjudged to have brought down substitute Kevin Gameiro in the box and, although the Frenchman blazed his spot-kick over the crossbar, he quickly made amends.
Within three minutes of the miss, Koke slipped a pass into Griezmann in the box, and his ball was nudged in by Gameiro to set up a grandstand finish at an increasingly tense Camp Nou.
Luis Suarez off in time added on
Barcelona were holding on, and were reduced to nine men in stoppage time when striker Suarez earned two quickfire yellows to become the third player to be sent off.
Barcelona meet Celta or Alaves in final
Atletico pressed to force extra time late on, but their efforts were to no avail - and Barça go on to face the winner of the other semi between Celta Vigo and Alaves.
Here's how it happened:
Barcelona 1-1 Atletico Madrid (3-2 agg): full time
Peeeep! And that's it! Barcelona are into the final!
Min 95 | With Moya still out of his goal, Barcelona break forward - but Luis scythes down Messi before he can even think about finding the unguarded net. The Brazilian appears lucky only to see yellow... Now there's a yellow for Busquets, for what I am yet to ascertain.
Min 94 | Atletico are pinning Barcelona back in their area, where it's all hands to the pump for the hosts. Moya is up for the corner, which eventually comes to Filipe Luis on the left of the box...but Umtiti blocks!
Min 92 | There's an opening for Atletico...but Griezmann can't control! Correa dances past his man and fires it across goal, but at the near post the Frenchman only succeeds in sidefooting it back out for a goal-kick.
Min 90 | Suarez is off! The striker tangles with Koke, the midfielder tumbles, and Gil Manzano brandishes a second yellow! He'll miss the final too - if Barça hold on...
Min 88 | Barcelona are holding on now - Atletico earn a free-kick on the left, Koke delivers, and it's scrambled out for a corner, which is in turn scrambled out for another. Atleti work their second corner to Koke on the right, and the midfielder pings in a delicious cross to the back post...but nobody gets on the end of it! Simeone's is a picture of anguish on the touchline.
Min 87 | Suarez is the latest player to be booked for bringing down Juanfran. The tension is palpable at the Camp Nou now.
Min 86 | Shooting chance for Filipe Luis on the edge of the box...but he blazes over!
Min 84 | Suarez has it in the net for Barça, but the flag is up! Messi plays it through to the Uruguayan to beat Moya, but he was off.
Min 83 | Gooooal to Atletico! Right, so now I look slightly silly (see min 82). Koke slips it into Griezmann in the box, and 'Le Petit Prince' turns it across goal for Gameiro to tap in!
Min 82 | Atletico have only got themselves to blame. They've created enough chances to score at least twice, but if you can't hit a barn door then you're sunk.
Min 80 | Gameiro misses! The Frenchman picks himself up to take the spot-kick, and blasts his effort high, the ball clipping the bar on its way over.
Min 79 | Penalty to Atletico! Maybe there's still life in Los Rojiblancos after all! Pique is penalised for bringing down Gameiro!
Min 78 | Cillessen was also booked for time-wasting shortly before that Messi free-kick. Savic will miss the final if Atletico turn this around, by the way.
Min 77 | Savic is the next man into the book for a foul on Suarez ten yards or so outside of the box. Messi stands over the dead-ball...and thumps it against the bar! That really would have been curtains.
Min 75 | Atleti win a free-kick in the right-hand channel, which eventually comes to Correa, who appears to be offering the visitors' chief threat right now. He tries to wriggle himself into a shooting position in the box, but Umtiti stays on his feet and there's no way through for the Argentine.
Min 73 | Correa picks it up and dribbles at a backpedalling Barcelona defence...but when he reaches the edge of the box, his shot trundles tamely into Cillessen's arms.
Min 72 | And the Croat is replaced, Andres Iniesta following Busuqets in being given a hero's welcome back from injury.
Min 70 | On comes Busquets for Arda, the home fans giving the Spaniard a huge ovation on his return from injury. A few moments ago, Rakitic was also booked after giving the ref a little too much lip.
Min 69 | Carrasco, you are a very silly boy. The Belgian slides in on Arda, earns his second yellow and the numbers are evened up again. Ten against ten!
Min 66 | Atletico are well on top again now. Correa feeds the run of Juanfran for the right-back to cross low, but a Blaugrana shirt clears. Moments later, Pique has to be alert to divert Saul's ball in from the other flank. Sergio Busquets is readying himself to come on.
Min 62 | Javier Mascherano comes on for Denis Suarez and makes his way over to Roberto's right-back position. Moments earlier, Atletico made their final change, Kevin Gameiro coming on for Torres.
Min 60 | Atletico scor....no! It's flagged offside! And wrongly so! Carrasco touches it first-time to Griezmann on the edge of the area, the striker takes it into the box - and fires in low across Cillessen. The Frenchman is adjudged to have been ahead of the play, but replays show he was most definitely on...
Min 58 | Barcelona are down to ten men! Sergi Roberto - who looked like he was just about to be replaced by Aleix Vidal - goes in rashly on Filipe Luis and earns himself a second yellow and first dibs on the hot water! The resulting free-kick is a chance to send it into the mixer, but comes to nought.
Min 57 | Lucas is coming in for plenty of treatment from the home fans in the wake of his recent brush with the law - whistles there as the defender touches the ball.
Min 55 | Ufff! Luis Suarez is inches away from latching onto a cute little low ball from Roberto towards the penalty spot.
Min 54 | Carrasco drops his shoulder to create shooting space just outside the Barcelona area...but blasts his effort well off target!
Min 52 | Savic misses his header and suddenly Suárez is bursting onto it and playing it across to Messi, who's in acres of space and is very nearly in - but he can't quite bring it under control and Atletico get it clear.
Min 50 | Barcelona have had pretty much all of the ball since the second half began, and now Gomes tries his luck from range - but it's well over.
Min 48 | On comes Lucas. Only one change left for Simeone.
Min 47 | Just as I say that, Angel Correa comes on for Nico Gaitan, while Lucas Hernandez is preparing to come on for Godin, who has picked up a knock.
Min 46 | No changes for either side.
Peeeeep! The teams are back out and the second half is underway!
Barcelona 1-0 Atletico Madrid: half-time summary
Atletico have had the better of the first half and should have got themselves on the scoresheet - particularly through Yannick Carrasco's early chance - but find themselves behind to Luis Suarez's strike shortly before the break. Barcelona had improved in the final 15 minutes of the period, but Atleti will still feel very hard done by. Despite the concession of that goal, though, their task remains to score twice (albeit that'll now only be good enough for extra time at the most).
Barcelona 1-0 Atletico Madrid: first half
Peeeep! That's half time!
Min 43 | Goooooal! Just as I was about to write that Barcelona were creating sweet Fanny Adams in attack, they go and score! Luis Suarez touches it to Messi, who scampers forward and pings a low shot towards the corner. Moya gets a hand to it but can only push it out to the lurking Suarez, who is onside and buries the rebound!
Min 40 | The first half hour or so was all about Atletico, but - at least in territorial terms - Barça have, to an extent, reasserted themselves over the past few minutes.
Min 39 | Filipe Luis and Koke hunt down Messi and win it back, but are slightly unfortunate to be penalised. That gives Barça a chance to send in a free-kick, but the away side clear.
Min 35 | Carrasco joins Roberto in the book, the Belgian shown a yellow card for a foul on Arda. I can't see Luis Enrique, but we are assured by the Spanish commentary team that he is in a right old funk on the touchline.
Min 32 | Barça enjoy their first remotely sustained period in the Atletico half, winning a corner that Rakitic will take - but it comes to nought.
Min 30 | Pique is penalised for a foul on Torres as the pair jump together for the ball, and from the resulting free-kick Atletico are appealing for a penalty - but Gil Manzano says no! Torres chests it down and tumbles under pressure from Roberto. It would have been soft.
Min 28 | Alba nearly gets Denis Suárez in, but Godin cuts out it - only as far as Messi, who finally gets his first proper sight of goal. His low effort does no more than sting Miguel Angel Moya's palms, though.
Min 25 | The Atletico bench is up in arms as Gaitan nips in to take the ball off Rakitic and is caught by the Croatia international. Mr Gil Manzano keeps his cards in his pocket, though.
Min 23 | That was the first real mention of Mr Messi, Atletico have been much the better side so far, but - excuse me for stating the obvious here - they need to translate that superiority into goals.
Min 20 | Filipe Luis lashes a speculative long-range effort into the side-netting.
Min 19 | Arda's backheel locates Leo Messi in the Atletico box, but the little Argentine can't work himself enough space and Atleti clear. Sergi Roberto then picks up the first yellow of the night for a foul on Torres.
Min 18 | Now Griezmann is bursting forward at the Barcelona backline, but he's shepherded wide by Jordi Alba and the chance is lost. Atletico have started where they left off in the first leg.
Min 17 | From the resulting corner, Godin rises highest but can only direct his header into Cillessen's grateful arms.
Min 16 | It's all Atletico. First Gaitan brings it forward but is dispossessed, before Koke picks it up and thumps an effort towards Cillessen's corner, only for the Dutchman to turn it behind for a corner!
Min 11 | And again the visitors go close! They win a free-kick on the left touchline, which Koke stands over. He flights it in, Griezmann flicks it on and Savic gets his head to it, but Cillessen is alive to parry! Savic looks to pounce on the loose ball, but he's rightly flagged offside.
Min 9 | That Suarez chance aside, Atletico have had much the better of the game's opening stages.
Min 6 | My my, Atletico should be ahead there! Los Rojiblancos break quickly and Koke feeds Yannick Carrasco, who drops his shoulder and steps inside Sergi Roberto and into the box - but he drives his shot straight at Cillessen!
Min 5 | And just as I sing Atletico's praises, Luis Suarez carves out Barcelona's first opening! Arda Turan feeds the Uruguayan, who akins Stefan Savic far too easily on the left edge of the box...but he skews his low shot into the side-netting.
Min 4 | Now Griezmann earns a free-kick that Gaitan will swing into the area. Torres and Diego Godin almost get on the end the Argentine's delivery, but the whistle blows for a foul. Bright start from the visitors.
Min 2 | Torres sets Nicolas Gaitan scampering away down the left, but the flag is up - and replays show he wasn't off.
Min 1 | Atletico start with purpose, and should really have given Jasper Cillessen some early work to do there. First Fernando Torres looks to shoot just inside the box and, although Samuel Umtiti blocks it, the loose ball drops right into Antoine Griezmann's path. However, with the Frenchman winding up to hit it, Andre Gomes just nicks it away.
Peeeeep! We are up and running.
One min to kick-off | Tonight's referee is Jesus Gil Manzano. Coin toss done, and Atletico Madrid will get us underway.
Two mins to kick-off | The teams are in the tunnel - nice hug between Juanfran and Andrés Iniesta. And now the anthem blares, and out they come!
Barcelona vs Atletico Madrid: confirmed line-ups
Barcelona XI: Cillessen, Roberto, Pique, Umtiti, Alba, D. Suarez, Rakitic, Gomes, Messi, L. Suarez, Arda
Atletico Madrid XI: Moya, Juanfran, Savic, Godin, F. Luis, Carrasco, Koke, Saul, Gaitan, Griezmann, Torres
Barcelona vs Atletico Madrid: latest news
20:56 | Or will Barcelona knock Atletico out of the Copa del Rey for the second time in three years? So many questions.
20:55 | Five minutes until we get up and running in Barcelona - can Atletico beat Barça on their own patch for the first time since 2006? The result that day - a 3-1 win, since you ask - would do them.
20:51 | As we close in on kick-off, allow me to take one final chance to point you in the direction of our dashed useful guide on how and where to watch.
20:50 | Atletico president Enrique Cerezo has been speaking to the media, not for the first time today. "It's going to be a great game, an exciting encounter," says Mr C.
20:45 | February is always a productive month for Fernando Torres. Here's why.
20:40 | Both teams are out warming up, and we're 20 minutes away from kick-off. Can't wait.
20:30 | Here's more on tonight's team news. Arda Turan (who started in midfield at the weekend) fills in for the suspended Neymar on the left of the attack, I had neglected to mention.
20:25 | On a side note, why are so many football clubs incapable of tweeting their line-ups without recourse to fancy-dan videos? By golly it grinds my gears. What's wrong with text?
20:22 | As Barça have only too gleefully pointed out, the hosts' last 16 home results against Atletico will take them through.
20:20 | Can Simeone get a first win at the Camp Nou as Atletico Madrid coach - and, more to the point, one that's enough to overturn Los Colchoneros's 2-1 deficit? We're 40 minutes away from finding out.
20:12 | Atletico boss Simeone, meanwhile, has as anticipated named a starting XI with plenty of attacking intent about it, with Yannick Carrasco and Nicolas Gaitan occupying the flanks behind a forward pairing of Antoine Griezmann and Fernando Torres.
20:10 | Sergio Busquets and Andrés Iniesta, back in the Barça squad after overcoming their respective injuries, are only fit enough to make the bench.
20:05 | Team news: As expected, there are wholesale changes to the Barça line-up that saw off Athletic Club at the weekend. Jasper Cillessen, Sergi Roberto, Jordi Alba, Ivan Rakitic, Denis Suarez and Luis Suarez all come in. It had been thought that Javier Mascherano may well reprise his holding role from the first leg, but he has to settle for a place on the bench.
19:50 | Torres it was who nicked Atleti's crucial away goal in the Champions League quarters last season, while his late strike for Chelsea on a balmy evening in 2012 ensured the Premier League side's spot in the final of Europe's top club competition. Oh, and elicited gurgles of delight from a certain future ex-Valencia boss...
19:45 | Torres comes into tonight's clash on the back of a couple of goals at the weekend - and what better team to face next then his favourite victims as a footballer? He certainly has a track record of nicking crucial knockout-tie goals at the Camp Nou...
19:40 | With Atleti needing goals to turn the tie around, it's thought that Simeone will name an attacking side featuring Yannick Carrasco, Nicolas Gaitan, Fernando Torres and Antoine Griezmann. It's all set up for a watchable game in the Ciudad Condal, I'd say...
19:35 | Atleti boss Diego Simeone has taken an 18-man group to Barcelona, one that includes midfielder Thomas Partey following his return from the Africa Cup of Nations, and defender Lucas Hernandez in spite of his recent troubles with the law. Jose Maria Gimenez isn't back fit in time, while skipper Gabi Fernandez is suspended.
19:30 | As for Atletico, they're aiming to get to their first Copa trophy decider since Miranda's extra-time header saw them upset city rivals Real Madrid in 2013.
19:20 | Also, if the holders make it through to the final, it'll be their fourth in succession and a sixth in seven years. Not bad, I suppose.
19:10 | Incidentally, any idea where Barça won each of those cup finals? Yep, you guessed it: at the home of arch rivals Real Madrid. Bruce Springsteen must have been playing somewhere else, I guess.
19:05 | Barcelona are bidding to make it a hat-trick of Copa del Rey trophy wins, in the process emulating...themselves. Los Azulgranas were the last team to achieve that feat, way back in 1951, 1952 and 1953.
19:00 | Sergi Roberto celebrates his 25th birthday today, hot on the heels of suspended Barça colleague Neymar - whose big day saw Brazil team-mate Marcelo get himself caught up in a light spot of Instagram-based controversy...
18:55 | In case you missed it earlier, here's the Barcelona squad news for today's game.
18:50 | AS editor Alfredo Relaño is tingling with anticipation ahead of tonight's return leg, and this morning looked ahead to the Camp Nou clash in his daily editorial.
18:40 | Just over two hours to go until kick-off in Catalonia: plenty of time to read our lovingly-crafted match preview below, then...
18:30 | While Messi heads up Barça's list of yellow-card tightrope walkers tonight, Atleti's Saul Niguez and Lucas Hernandez are also one booking away from a comfy seat in the stands come cup final day.
17:45 | Barcelona and Atletico have played a fair few times down the years. Have a glance at our lovingly created photo gallery taking in the history of this glorious fixture.
17:15 | Speaking ahead of tonight's clash, Atletico defender Filipe Luis said that overturning the deficit would be "hard but not impossible." Atletico have yet to win at Camp Nou in nine attempts under Diego Simeone.
16:45 | Barça will also be without midfielder Rafinha this evening after the Brazil international suffered a broken nose in a clash with his own keeper, Marc-Andre Ter Stegen, in the 3-0 victory over Athletic at Camp Nou last Saturday.
16:15 | Leo Messi, along with Jordi Alba and Samuel Umtiti, is one caution away from missing the final if Barcelona go through. If that chain events transpires, it would be the first time the Argentinean has missed a final with Barcelona since the 2006 Champions League final.
15:50 | Sergio Busquets, Andres Iniesta and Lucas Digne have all been given the medical all-clear this morning. All three feature in Luis Enrique's 18-man squad list.
15:00 | Atlético will be looking to talismanic striker Antoine Griezmann in Camp Nou, but the Frenchman hasn't enjoyed a huge amount of luck in front of goal in Can Barça. Can he break his duck tonight?
14:15 | Here's how Atleti fans wished the squad well at their Majadahonda training base before Simeone's men departed for Barcelona.
13:30 | Luis Enrique has confirmed the Barcelona squad for tonight's cup clash.
12:45 | Following the postponement of Celta Vigo's LaLiga game on Sunday, cup semi-final rivals Alaves called for tomorrow's match to be re-scheduled which was rejected by the Spanish FA.
11:45 | Barça will be acutely aware of Fernando Torres and his strike rate against the Catalan side in the past with memories of 2012 and UCL elimination to Chelsea still fresh in the mind.
11:00 | In the Catalan capital today? Why not head to Camp Nou for the unbeatable live match experience. A small quantity of tickets still remain on-sale.
10:45 | Good morning and welcome to our live build-up ahead of live coverage from Camp Nou as we learn the first of the 2016/17 Copa del Rey finalists. Barça go into the tie with an upper hand with a 1-2 win at the Calderon last week.
Barcelona vs Atletico Madrid: preview
Barcelona host Atletico Madrid in the second leg of their Copa del Rey tie with the home side holding a 2-1 advantage from the opening match at the Calderon last week. After a first half in which Barça were the dominant side, Diego Simeone’s men came out swinging in the second half and almost pulled the tie level late on but had to settle on the final whistle for an Antoine Griezmann consolation to take to the Camp Nou.
History does not favour the visitors: Barcelona have won each of the past five Copa meetings and knocked out the Rojiblancos in 2008-09 (5-2 on aggregate) and 2014-15 (4-2 on aggregate). On both occasions, Barça went on to lift the title.
Barcelona
The home side will be without Neymar, who is serving a suspension, and have Leo Messi, Jordi Alba and Samuel Umtiti walking a fine line: if any go in the referee’s notebook, they will miss the final.
Luis Enrique may have to contend without key midfielders Sergio Busquets and Andres Iniesta, both of whom are unlikely to fit enough to stat although they have returned to full training. Gerard Pique, however, should be in the starting line-up after being taken off early against Athletic Bilbao last weekend with an adductor problem.Rafinha will also be unavailable after being floored by his own keeper, Marc-Andre Ter Stegen, in the Athletic match and sustaining a broken nose.
Barcelona are seeking to win the Copa del Rey in three consecutive seasons for the first time since 1951-53, when the Azulgrana achieved the feat under Ferdinand Daucik.
Atletico Madrid
Diego Simeone has visited Camp Nou nine times in his capacity as Atletico Madrid manager, and has failed to win a single game. The Argentinean’s record in Barça’s stadium stands at five defeats and four draws across LaLiga, the Copa, the Spanish Supercup and the Champions League. Of more concern to Simeone will be the goalscoring record of his side, who have never hit the back of the net more than once in Camp Nou. That one of those single strikes was sufficient to secure the Liga title in a 1-1 draw on the final day of the 2013-14 season will be of some comfort but Atletico need to double that number without reply to finish the tie to their advantage inside 90 minutes.
Antoine Griezmann has never scored, or been on the winning side, in Can Barça but in Fernando Torres, Simeone possesses a form of kryptonite: the striker has found the target 10 times in 18 games against Tuesday’s opponents.
Probable teams:
Barcelona XI: Cillissen, Pique, Umtiti, Sergi Roberto, Mascherano, Alba, Rakitic, Gomes, Messi, Suarez, Arda
Atletico XI: Moya, Savic, Godin, Juanfran, Filipe Luis, Saul, Koke, Carrasco, Griezmann, Gaitan, Torres.
Bet on Barcelona – Atletico Madrid now