Atlético reached the Copa del Rey final in the most Atleti way possible

Barcelona threw everything they had at Atlético Madrid, but the 4-0 first-leg cushion proved just enough to carry the Rojiblancos into their first Copa del Rey final since 2013 after a 3-0 second-leg defeat that felt like victory inside their own heads. Diego Simeone’s side survived 95 frantic minutes at a raucous, partially-reopened Spotify Camp Nou, clinging to the aggregate lead through a display of stoic defending, clock management and the kind of collective angst that has become the club’s calling card.

“We are Atlético de Madrid. We are destined to suffer,” Simeone said, summing up a night that saw Barça dominate possession (71 percent) and pepper Juan Musso’s goal with 21 shots. Yet for all the pressure, the hosts could not bridge the four-goal chasm, their 3-0 win on the night falling one strike short of forcing extra time.

Teenager Marc Bernal twice found the net, once on the half-hour mark and again with 18 minutes left, while Raphinha smashed home a 49th-minute penalty after Pedri was clipped in the area. The expected-goals ledger (3.09-0.68 in Barça’s favour) underlined the hosts’ superiority, but Atlético’s deep block and game-savvy substitutions—Alexander Sørloth, Nahuel Molina and Álex Baena all introduced before the 70th minute—slowed the tempo just enough to halt the comeback.

Captain Koke, substituted in the 58th minute, called the 3-0 reverse “the happiest defeat” of his career, while midfielder Álex Baena admitted the suffering inside the ropes was even worse than it looked from the stands. Atleti managed only seven shots and completed 212 passes, yet they cleared their lines when it mattered: José María Giménez entered late and recorded four clearances in 20 minutes as Barcelona’s final four attempts produced a meagre 0.09 xG.

The result books Atlético a return to La Cartuja on 18 April and gives grizzled stalwarts like Koke—possibly playing out his contract—and Giménez, at the club 13 years without a Copa winners’ medal, a shot at long-awaited redemption. Simeone will coach his second Copa final and the 11th major final of his 14-year tenure, though the biggest question mark hovers over Antoine Griezmann. The French forward, who has scored in every round of this season’s competition, is weighing a lucrative move to Orlando City but is the competition’s joint-top scorer for Atlético with five goals.

“I don’t know what will happen with Antoine,” Koke admitted. “He deserves to play in the final more than anyone.” Simeone echoed the sentiment, praising the 34-year-old’s two-way work rate: nine ball recoveries and 17 defensive actions in the Camp Nou slugfest.

Should Real Sociedad protect their 1-0 lead over Athletic Club in the other semi, Atleti will face a familiar foe in Seville. The Rojiblancos defeated La Real on penalties in the 1987 final and overcame Athletic in 1985, setting up a potential stroll down memory lane—provided they can handle one more night of heart-stopping drama, the only way they seem to know.