Three takeaways from Atletico Madrid 0-1 Barcelona | Copa del Rey | OneFootball

All four of Barcelona’s games against Atletico Madrid this season have been memorable in their own way.

The first meeting at Montjuic ended in a comeback win for Los Rojiblancos and served as a wake-up call ahead of the Christmas break – one which ultimately led the team to the stunning run that they are in

The first leg of the Copa del Rey semifinal was the second wake-up call for Barcelona that immediate defensive improvements were needed as they faltered from a position of advantage to a 4-4 draw against the run of play.

Ironically, their first win over Diego Simeone’s side came at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano in a comeback performance that saw Barça return from 2-0 down to 4-2 up.

Last night was the final meeting between the two teams this season and Barcelona once again made sure to take home the win, this time with a crucial clean sheet along with it. Most importantly, they sealed a place in the final of the Copa del Rey.

Barça Universal brings you three talking points from Atletico Madrid 0-1 Barcelona (4-5 agg).

Done the hard way

Going to the Riyadh Air Metropolitano and beating Atletico Madrid may well be one of the most difficult results to achieve in Spain. Last night, Barcelona completed that achievement for the second time in less than a month.

Unlike the previous game, the Catalans did not go down early and mount a comeback on this occasion. What did have to do, however, was dig deep for the win.

Barcelona dominated the first half, and deservedly so as they were the better team by quite some margin. Atletico Madrid barely got a shot away while the Catalans rampantly created chance after chance.

Taking the one-goal lead into the second half, Barcelona were the favourites given how they had just outplayed Atleti over 45 minutes.

However, the second period brought a whole different challenge as Los Rojiblancos pushed in attack with high intensity and simply did not allow Barcelona to get a grip of the game.

Hansi Flick’s men defended cohesively to deny Atletico their equaliser and were forced to dig deep to retain possession for short spells in the half and it is clear that the win was more hard-fought than comfortable.

Yet, it is such hard wins at times that boosts the confidence of the dressing room. After all, Barcelona will read more into the result and its consequence than the narrow margin of victory.

Flick’s rotation pays off

The match-winner. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)

Hansi Flick made one major change to his starting lineup that not many saw coming last night, and that was the change that gave Barcelona the winning goal in Madrid.

The German tactician brought Alejandro Balde, Raphinha and Pau Cubarsi all back into the starting XI last night and all three players had their positive moments. What changed the game, however, was his decision to deploy Ferran Torres in place of Robert Lewandowski.

For a combination of tactical and fitness factors, the Polish striker started on the bench and Torres, who has been in supreme form, started as the striker. The dynamism he brought to the table rattled the hosts’ defence and amplified the Blaugrana’s threat in attack.

Unsurprisingly, it was Torres who scored the winning goal in the semifinal and it came in the 27th minute when Lamine Yamal cut the defence in half with his assist to find his compatriot in space.

Had it been Lewandowski in the same position, the chance may not have even been created or the player would have struggled to get to the end of the ball.

Torres, however, was alert with his movement and tactfully sent the ball past the Colchoneros’ goalkeeper to once again send Barcelona ahead in the Copa del Rey.

A date set with Real Madrid

The win over Atletico Madrid last night was critical for only one reason – the reward it brings with it which is a place in the final of the Copa del Rey.

Earlier this week, Real Madrid secured their place in the finale with a topsy-turvy win over Real Sociedad in a game that could well have ended anyway.

Now, Barcelona have booked their place in the ultimate clash and will lock horns with their arch-rivals once more.

Hansi Flick’s team have made easy work of Real Madrid in both their meetings this season including the whopping 5-2 win in the final of the Spanish Super Cup.

Barcelona are alive in all three competitions, but the win over Real Madrid in the Cup final later this month will come as a massive boost to their hopes of a domestic double.

After all, winning three out of three Clasicos this season will give them enough reason to believe they can repeat it at Monjtuic in the final league Clasico which may well decide the title race.

Conversely, however, a win for Real Madrid would place Los Blancos as favourites on both nights and in both competitions. Needless to say, there is more weight to the Copa del Rey final than appears to the eye.