Copa del Rey: Neymar slams Atlético Madrid

From his perch thousands of kilometres away from Madrid, Neymar still managed to become one of the loudest voices after Thursday night’s Copa del Rey semi-final first leg. Watching Atlético Madrid dismantle FC Barcelona 4-0 at the Metropolitano, the Brazilian forward took to social media to vent his frustration—not at the scoreline, but at the playing surface itself.

“Playing football on this pitch is almost impossible,” Neymar posted on X as the goals flew in. His critique resonated with viewers who saw Barça players repeatedly lose their footing and Atlético footballers likewise struggle for balance throughout the 90 minutes. The uneven turf even played a direct role in the opening goal, when a routine back pass from centre-back Éric Garcia took a wicked bobble, sailed over the goalkeeper, and nestled into the net for an own goal after 25 minutes.

While VAR decisions and the four goals dominated post-match talk, Neymar’s intervention shifted part of the spotlight onto the pitch quality, underscoring how infrastructure can influence high-stakes encounters. The 4-0 result gives Atlético a commanding lead ahead of the return leg, yet the condition of the field has now become a subplot, amplified by one of football’s most recognisable voices.

Neymar, cup-tied and recovering from injury, may not feature in European competitions this season, but his online commentary ensured he remained central to the Copa del Rey conversation.