Atletico Madrid reached the Copa del Rey final for the first time since 2013 despite a 3-0 defeat by Barcelona on Tuesday, securing a 4-3 aggregate victory after their 4-0 first-leg win in Madrid.
The hosts dominated from kickoff, knowing they required at least four goals to force extra time, and pinned Diego Simeone’s side deep inside their own half.
Talisman Lamine Yamal sparked the revival in the 30th minute, gliding past two defenders from a short corner before drilling a low cross for Marc Bernal to convert from close range.
Atletico had a chance to ease the pressure but Nigerian Ademola Lookman headed narrowly wide from a Marcos Llorente cross, with Barcelona doubling their lead shortly after, when defender Marc Pubill fouled Pedri inside the box in first-half stoppage time.
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Winger Raphinha sent the spot kick to the left as goalkeeper Juan Musso dived the other way to make the scores 2-0.
Atletico goalkeeper Juan Musso kept Atletico afloat after the break, producing a one-handed save to turn Pedri’s effort behind in the 54th minute and then denying Bernal from the edge of the area, before saving from Yamal twice.
The third goal arrived in the 72nd minute when Bernal volleyed home from a Joao Cancelo cross, leaving Barcelona one strike short of forcing extra time.
Barcelona came within a whisker of an improbable comeback after last month’s thrashing, with 18-year-old midfielder Marc Bernal, starting in place of the injured Frenkie De Jong, scoring in each half and Raphinha converting a penalty after Pedri was fouled.
However, Atletico held on to progress and will face the winner of Wednesday’s other semi-final between Real Sociedad and Athletic Bilbao, with Sociedad carrying a 1-0 first-leg lead.
“We’re in the final, that’s what matters,” Atletico goalkeeper Juan Musso said in an interview. “We knew it could be difficult.”
“They’re one of the best teams in the world but we got through because we scored more goals than they did overall. That’s what’s all about.”