The heavyweight clash between Barcelona and Atletico Madrid in the Copa del Rey semifinal lived up to its hype as both teams settled for a 4-4 draw in the first leg on Tuesday, Afrosport reports.
Atletico drew first blood inside the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys in Barcelona, with Argentine striker Julian Alvarez breaking the deadlock inside the opening minute for his 20th goal in 39 matches this season.
Diego Simeone’s side quickly doubled their lead through Antoine Griezmann, with the Frenchman tucking home a close-range finish after some fine play by Alvarez.
Barcelona settled into the game and drew one back through Spaniard Pedri in the 19th minute. The midfielder sent goalkeeper Juan Musso the wrong way with a deft finish from inside the box after latching onto a cutback from Jules Kounde.
The hosts evened proceedings two minutes later through teenage defender Pau Cubarsi, who leapt highest from a Raphinha corner to head home his first goal in Barcelona colors.
The Catalan giants completed the turnaround in the 41st minute as Inigo Martinez headed home another Raphinha corner at the far post after some very poor defending from the visitors.
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Veteran striker Robert Lewandowski got on the scoresheet for Hansi Flick’s side in the 74th minute, six minutes after coming on for Ferran Torres. The Poland international tapped the ball into an empty net after a brilliant play down the right from Lamine Yamal.
With the game edging towards a comfortable win for Barcelona, Atletico sprung back to life, and the visitors were rewarded with a third goal through Marcos Llorente, who drilled a fantastic strike into the bottom corner with six minutes left in regulation time.
Atletico drew level in the third minute of stoppage time as substitutes Samuel Lino and Alexander Sorloth combined to put an epic ending to the match. A long ball fell into the path of Lino, who had beaten Barca’s offside trap, and the Brazilian found Sorloth, who tapped the ball home from close range.
Both sides were disappointed not to get away with the win, but they will rekindle their rivalry in the second leg set to take place at Atletico’s Metropolitano Stadium on Wednesday, 2 April.
