Barcelona defeated Atlético Madrid 1-0 in the Copa del Rey semifinal on April 2, with Ferran Torres scoring the winner and securing a Clásico final matchup against Real Madrid.
A clinical goal by Ferran Torres, backed by disciplined defense and a commanding midfield performance, sent FC Barcelona past
Atlético Madrid. With this victory, Barça remains in the hunt for a treble, building momentum ahead of the Copa del Rey final against arch-rivals Real Madrid.
“This victory represents a major step,” Jerónimo Serrano, senior, said. “It might define their season’s success.”
The match’s only goal came in a tightly contested first half, when Ferran Torres calmly finished a decisive chance created through Barcelona’s sharp passing.
“The key moment was when Barcelona scored the 1-0 goal,” said Serrano. “They kept calm and secured the narrow victory.”
“Ferran is a player that doesn’t always get recognition,” Matías Arismendi, senior, said. “But in this match he showed how clinical he can be.”
The assist from Lamine Yamal highlighted the young star’s growing role in the squad, helping Barça take control early.
“That goal gave Barcelona confidence to defend their lead,” Serrano said. “They controlled the tempo from that point on.”
“Ferran looked sharp all game,” Emilio Otálvaro, senior, said. “He scored the winner and never stopped pressing.”
Barcelona’s defense, led by Araújo and Ter Stegen, held strong despite pressure from Atlético and didn’t allow a single shot on target.“Araújo was a beast,” said Otálvaro. “Ter Stegen came up big when needed.”
“The defensive performance was good, not excellent,” Serrano observed. “But it got the job done.”
Barcelona’s midfield trio dominated possession, keeping Atlético chasing the game and stifling their rhythm.
“Frenkie de Jong helped a lot with control and efficiency,” Jerónimo Vázquez, senior, said.
“Pedri kept things calm and controlled,” Otálvaro noted. “He always knew where to pass.”
“Barcelona just kept the rhythm,” said Arismendi. “They waited for the right moment to strike.”
Atlético Madrid struggled to adapt, and their tactical adjustments failed to generate meaningful chances.
“Honestly, I don’t think the changes affected the game much,” Vázquez admitted.
“They crossed too much and didn’t test the keeper,” said Otálvaro. “There was no creativity.”
“Barcelona marked Griezmann well,” Arismendi pointed out. “He just didn’t look sharp.”
Coach Hansi Flick’s leadership and the team’s chemistry were clear on the field, keeping the squad focused under pressure.
“Flick is helping the team grow,” said Vázquez. “With his leadership, they can win titles again.”
“Their chemistry is what won them the game,” said Arismendi. “They passed quickly and didn’t panic.”
“If Barcelona plays like they did here—controlling the tempo, staying focused—they have a real shot at winning,” Arismendi concluded.