This latest Copa del Rey breakdown analyzes a "Colchonero" masterclass: led by a brilliant Antoine Griezmann and a lethal first-half display, Atlético Madrid crushed Barcelona 4-0. While Barça held the ball, they lacked both soul and defense.

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Copa del Rey / Historic Rout: Atleti Humiliates Barça

February 12, 2026

A magical and unforgettable night at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano. What was expected to be a tight contest turned into a living nightmare for the Blaugrana. Diego Simeone’s squad gave a masterclass on punishing rival mistakes, netting four goals in just 45 minutes to put one foot in the grand final.

🔴 Atlético de Madrid: A Perfect First Half

Atlético showed no mercy. From the opening whistle, the Red-and-White intensity suffocated a Barcelona side that committed amateur errors while playing out from the back.

• The Blitz (1' - 45'): The party started early with an Eric García own goal (6'). Shortly after, Antoine Griezmann (14') doubled the lead with a clinical finish off the post. Before the break, Ademola Lookman (33') and Julián Álvarez (45'+2') closed the account to the delight of a roaring home crowd.

• Iron Defense: Despite having only 34.4% possession, Atleti was a fortress. Juan Musso was impeccable when called upon, neutralizing every attempt at a Culé comeback.

🔵 Barcelona: Total Disaster in Madrid

Hansi Flick’s squad endured their worst night of the season. Neither the early substitution of Robert Lewandowski (37') nor sterile ball possession could change the tide.

• VAR and Frustration: Barça tried to react in the second half, but VAR disallowed a Pau Cubarsí goal due to an offside by Lewandowski. To make matters worse, Eric García was shown a red card in the 85th minute, although it was overturned by VAR—capping off a night to forget.

• Zero Accuracy: Out of 14 total shots, only 4 were on target. Fermín López struck the crossbar, symbolizing the visitors' lack of luck.

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📊 Final Match Statistics

Statistic	Atlético de Madrid	FC Barcelona
Goals	4	0
Possession	34.4%	65.6%
Shots on Target	8	4
Corner Kicks	5	8
Saves	4	3

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📋 The Protagonists

• The Star: Antoine Griezmann. "The Little Prince" didn't just score; he orchestrated every counterattack and provided key assists throughout the match.

• The Villain: Eric García. He sparked the collapse with an own goal and struggled all night to contain the pace of Giuliano Simeone and Julián Álvarez.

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💡 Stat of the Day

Atlético Madrid scored 4 goals in the first half against Barcelona, a feat rarely seen in head-to-head knockout matches in recent decades. Efficiency was the key: out of 8 shots on target, half of them ended up in the back of Joan García’s net.