Atletico score four in first-half Barcelona cup rout

Atletico Madrid defeated Barcelona 4-0 in the first leg of their Copa del Rey semi-final. All four goals arrived before half-time, leaving the holders with a substantial deficit to overcome when the clubs met again for the return fixture in Barcelona.

An early Eric Garcia own goal followed a mistake by goalkeeper Joan Garcia from a back-pass. Antoine Griezmann doubled Atletico’s lead seven minutes later, and the hosts continued to punish Barcelona’s difficulties before the break, building a four-goal cushion through further attacking moves.

Barcelona could not reduce the deficit after the interval. Eric Garcia’s later red card also left them with ten players, completing a difficult night and making the second-leg task significantly harder for Hansi Flick’s side.