Barcelona advance to Copa del Rey final after narrow win over Atletico Madrid | Football News

Barcelona beat Atletico Madrid 1-0 on the night in the Copa del Rey semi-finals second leg and 5-4 on aggregate. (AP) Barcelona advanced to the Copa del Rey final against Real Madrid after securing a 1-0 victory over Atletico Madrid at the Metropolitano stadium on Wednesday, with Ferran Torres scoring the decisive goal for a 5-4 aggregate win in the semi-final tie. The Catalans continue their impressive unbeaten run in 2025, now stretching to 21 games.Barcelona, who have won the Copa del Rey a record 31 times, dominated the match following the entertaining 4-4 draw in the first leg.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!The defeat leaves Atletico Madrid with limited objectives for the remainder of the season, as they now trail Barcelona by nine points in La Liga with nine matches left.”We can’t relax, we have to keep believing and working, with humility and I’m sure good things will come,” Torres told Movistar. “If a final is already a huge motivation, imagine playing against your most direct rival.”Real Madrid secured their place in the final after a 5-4 aggregate victory over Real Sociedad, following a 4-4 draw at the Santiago Bernabeu on Tuesday.Barcelona manager Hansi Flick reinstated Raphinha to the starting lineup, with the Brazilian winger becoming a target for Atletico’s defensive tactics.Cesar Azpilicueta received a yellow card for a challenge on Raphinha, surviving a VAR review for a potential red card, while Rodrigo de Paul was also booked for a hard tackle.Seventeen-year-old Lamine Yamal impressed on the opposite wing, creating chances and providing the assist for Torres’s goal with a well-weighted pass.Atletico Madrid introduced Alexander Sorloth at halftime, who had scored in the previous three meetings between the teams this season.Sorloth missed a clear opportunity early in the second half, opting to shoot instead of passing to an unmarked Antoine Griezmann.The Norwegian striker later had a goal disallowed for offside as Atletico increased their pressure on Barcelona’s defense.”We played really bravely here, it was not easy, especially in the second half,” Flick told Barca One. “(The job) is not done, we’re fighting, we’re trying everything to win titles and we’re in a good way, the team is doing great.”Barcelona managed to hold on during four minutes of stoppage time, despite Atletico goalkeeper Juan Musso joining the attack for a late free-kick.The result eliminates Atletico’s most realistic chance of winning a trophy this season, following their Champions League exit to Real Madrid in the round of 16.”We have to thank the fans who supported us, we’re as sad as them,” said Atletico defender Jose Gimenez. “We have to lift up our heads, finish the season in the best way possible and carry on.””We have to accept the reality, with rational thinking and knowing we’re a long way off (the top of La Liga), but we’ll try until the end.”Get the latest IPL 2025 updates on Times of India, including match schedules, team squads, points table and IPL live score for CSK, MI, RCB, KKR, SRH, LSG, DC, GT, PBKS, and RR. Don’t miss the list of players in the race for IPL Orange Cap and IPL Purple cap.