Barcelona Hosts Atlético Madrid in Copa del Rey Semifinals Showdown

BARCELONA, Spain — FC Barcelona will host Atlético Madrid on Tuesday night in the first leg of the Copa del Rey semifinals, a showdown that promises excitement as both teams vie for a spot in the tournament final.

Kickoff is set for 9 p.m. CET at Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys, with Barcelona looking to build on an impressive record of five consecutive victories across all competitions. They secured their place in the semifinals after a commanding 5-0 win over Valencia in the quarterfinals.

Barcelona’s recent form is outstanding, as they have won four of their last five matches at home while remaining unbeaten. The Catalans will aim to leverage their home advantage, having recently defeated Las Palmas 2-0, with goals from Dani Olmo and Fernando Torres.

Spanish forward Lamine Yamal, who sustained an injury against Las Palmas, is expected to start, alongside rested players like Dani Olmo, Frenkie de Jong, Inigo Martinez, and Ronald Araujo. The potential starting lineup for FC Barcelona is likely to include: Szczesny; Kounde, Araujo, Martinez, Balde; De Jong, Pedri; Raphinha, Olmo, Yamal; and Lewandowski.

Atlético Madrid enters the match following an equally dominant 5-0 victory over Getafe in the quarterfinals, reflecting their strong performance in the tournament. Under the management of Diego Simeone, Atlético boasts an unbeaten streak of eight matches in all competitions, with five wins and three draws, including a recent 3-0 triumph against Valencia that put them in third place in La Liga.

Simeone is expected to field his ideal lineup for this pivotal match, potentially including former Atalanta player Juan Musso in goal. The anticipated starting eleven for Atlético Madrid is: Musso; Molina, Gimenez, Le Normand, Galan; De Paul, Barrios, Lino; Griezmann, and Alvarez.

The match is anticipated to be closely contested, yet FC Barcelona’s need for victory is pressing as they aim to secure a favorable result before the return leg in Madrid on April 2. Betting lines currently favor Barcelona, with odds set at 1.75 for a win, against 4.35 for a draw, and 4.66 for an Atlético victory based on analysis from various bookmakers.

Fans looking to watch the match can tune in via several platforms, including ESPN+ in the USA, Sport TV in Portugal, and DAZN in Germany and Austria. Alternatively, there are options for free streaming available on platforms like SportyTv and the SonyLIV app.

As the excitement builds for this Copa del Rey semifinal, both teams will look to make their mark in a critical moment of the tournament.