Alexander Sørloth scored a dramatic stoppage-time equalizer as Atletico Madrid secured a pulsating 4-4 draw against Barcelona in the first leg of their Copa del Rey semi-final clash on Tuesday. The match, a rollercoaster of attacking football, saw momentum swing wildly between the two La Liga giants, leaving the tie finely poised ahead of the second leg.
Atletico Madrid stunned the hosts with two early goals. Julian Alvarez opened the scoring after just 50 seconds, converting at the back post, and former Barcelona player Antoine Griezmann doubled the lead soon after, finishing clinically past Wojciech Szczesny.
Barcelona, initially shell-shocked, responded emphatically. Pedri reduced the deficit, slotting home Jules Kounde’s cutback, before Pau Cubarsi leveled the scores with a header from a Raphinha corner, all within the first 19 minutes. Inigo Martinez then completed the first-half turnaround, heading Barcelona into the lead.
The second half continued the frenetic pace. Barcelona’s top scorer, Robert Lewandowski, came off the bench to extend their advantage, finishing after a dazzling run from Lamine Yamal.
However, Atletico Madrid refused to surrender. Marcos Llorente scored to set up a tense finale, and the visitors’ persistence paid off in the third minute of added time. Samuel Lino broke down the flank and delivered a cross to Sørloth, who calmly slotted home the equalizer.
The match, pitting La Liga’s leading scorers against the league’s tightest defense, lived up to its billing as a clash of styles. While pre-match expectations might have suggested a tight affair, the reality was an end-to-end encounter filled with goals and drama. The result sets up an enthralling second leg in April, with the tie evenly balanced. Copa del Rey
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