How will Atlético Madrid line up for Copa del Rey decider at Barcelona?

Barcelona, 4 March 2026 — When Atlético Madrid step into a half-built Camp Nou on Tuesday night, they will do so with a 4-0 cushion, a ticket to their first Copa del Rey final since 2013 tantalisingly within reach, and a starting XI that Diego Simeone has been forced to reshape at the last moment.

Pablo Barrios, the 22-year-old midfielder who was expected to return after limping off against Real Betis in January, trained apart on Sunday and is now considered highly unlikely to feature. His absence robs Simeone of one of his most reliable ball-winners and forces the Argentine coach into a midfield rethink alongside captain Koke and new signing Conor Gallagher.

Matteo Ruggeri, the left-sided defender who also worked away from the main group, is still expected to start, meaning the back four projected in Saturday’s final session was: Nahuel Molina, José María Giménez, Robin Le Normand and Ruggeri. Emiliano Martínez will continue in goal after back-to-back clean sheets in the competition.

With Barrios sidelined, the engine room will be anchored by Koke and Gallagher, leaving the advanced midfield role to Antoine Griezmann — possibly in his last cup appearance for the club if Orlando City’s pursuit accelerates before the MLS transfer window closes. Julián Álvarez and Alexander Sørloth are locked in as the strike pairing, while Samuel Lino and Rodrigo De Paul provide width in the 3-4-3 that morphed into a 5-3-2 without the ball.

Barcelona, chasing the impossible, will welcome back Pedri, Raphinha and Marcus Rashford, all of whom sat out the first-leg rout at the Metropolitano. Robert Lewandowski (left-eye trauma) and Frenkie de Jong (thigh) have since joined Gavi, Andreas Christensen and the suspended Eric García on the unavailable list, leaving Hansi Flick to lean heavily on 18-year-old Lamine Yamal — fresh from the first hat-trick of his career against Villarreal.

Off the pitch, roughly 14,000 Barça supporters will be absent after the City Council withheld an operating licence for the Gol Nord section of the ongoing renovation project. The stadium, reopened in November after 909 days away, is not scheduled for full completion until summer 2027.

Weather could play a part: forecasts point to temperatures in the high 50s Fahrenheit and light rain, conditions that historically suit Atlético’s high-pressing, transition-heavy approach.

Simeone’s side have not reached a Copa final since their 2013 triumph over Real Madrid. Despite Barcelona’s recent dominance in head-to-head meetings (seven wins in the last ten), the 4-0 first-leg scoreline leaves the Catalans needing a miracle. Expect Atlético to cede possession, compress space and look to hit through Álvarez’s pace on the break.

Projected Atlético XI (5-3-2): Martínez; Molina, Giménez, Le Normand, Ruggeri, Lino; De Paul, Koke, Gallagher; Griezmann; Álvarez, Sørloth.

If the tie proceeds according to the form book, Barcelona may win the night — but Atlético should be the ones booking flights to the final.

SEO keywords: