Barcelona and Real Madrid Set for Intense Copa Semifinal Showdown

MADRID, Spain — The draw for the semifinals of the Copa de la Reina 2024/25 took place today at the Spanish Football Federation‘s headquarters in Las Rozas, revealing a highly anticipated matchup between FC Barcelona and Real Madrid. The Clásico will occur over two legs, with the first match scheduled for either March 4 or 5 at Alfredo Di Stéfano Stadium, followed by the return leg on March 12 or 13 at Barcelona’s home ground.

Barcelona enters the semifinal as the reigning champions and a dominant force in women’s football, while Real Madrid looks to end a streak of 16 consecutive losses to their arch-rivals since integrating CD Tacón into their squad in 2020. Real Madrid advanced to the semifinals after defeating Villarreal (2-0) and Real Sociedad (3-1) in previous rounds.

On the other side of the bracket, Granada will face Atlético de Madrid. Granada has impressed this season, securing its first-ever semifinal appearance after eliminating Levante with a single goal from Postigo in the quarterfinals.

With Barcelona’s recent form, the team is favored to advance. They have faced Madrid several times recently, winning each match convincingly, including a 5-0 victory in the Supercopa final on January 26. Barcelona’s Alexia Putellas, Graham Hansen, and Ewa Pajor were among the scorers in that match.

“We are focused and excited to play a Clásico. It’s always a special moment,” said Vicky López, a player for Barcelona. Historically, the Catalan team has won all their 16 matches against Madrid, making them confident heading into this matchup.

Despite their challenges against lower-ranked teams recently, Barcelona remains undefeated in the tournament, boasting 10 Copa titles overall. Their experience in high-stakes matches gives them an edge over the competitors. “We’re defending champions and will give everything in the semifinals,” López added.

The pressure is also mounting for Real Madrid, which aims to capture its first trophy in club history. Linda Caicedo, who was instrumental in their last match, told reporters, “Every game against Barcelona is an opportunity to change the narrative.”

Atlético de Madrid, a two-time Copa champion, is determined to reclaim glory after struggling against teams from lower divisions. They barely scraped through their quarterfinal match against Cacereño, finalizing the score with goals from Ajibade and Guijarro late in extra time.

“It will be a tough tie against Granada, who have been impressive this season,” said Fiamma, an Atlético player, who acknowledged the challenge of competing against a rising opponent.

As preparations for the matches commence, the excitement for these pivotal encounters is palpable, promising football fans thrilling moments ahead.