Copa del Rey Semifinals: Barcelona and Real Madrid Face Off Against Atlético de Madrid and Real Sociedad
Image credits: REUTERS / Violeta Santos Moura
The Copa del Rey semifinals are underway, with four teams remaining in the competition. The defending champion, Athletic Club, was eliminated in the round of 16, and now Barcelona, Atlético de Madrid, Real Madrid, and Real Sociedad are vying for a spot in the final on April 26. The semifinals are the only stage of the tournament that features a two-legged tie, with each team hosting one match. If the aggregate score is tied after the second leg, the match will go into extra time, and if necessary, a penalty shootout will determine the winner.
The first semifinal match features Barcelona, the team with the most Copa del Rey titles (31), hosting Atlético de Madrid, which has won 10 titles. Both teams are in good form, with Barcelona looking to overcome Atlético's strong defense and Atlético seeking to capitalize on its potent counterattack. Ferran Torres has scored four goals in the competition for Barcelona, while Julián Álvarez has been in excellent form for Atlético, scoring four goals and providing one assist. The Argentine forward has been a key player for Atlético, and his performance will be crucial in the semifinals. Atlético de Madrid will look to its defense, led by goalkeeper Juan Musso, who has been impressive in the tournament, to contain Barcelona's attack.
In the other semifinal, Real Sociedad, a two-time Copa del Rey winner, hosts Real Madrid, which has won 20 titles. Real Madrid is favored to win, particularly with Kylian Mbappé in excellent form, having scored 14 goals in his last 14 matches across all competitions. The team's coach, Carlo Ancelotti, will look to his experienced players, including Luka Modric and Federico Valverde, to lead the team to victory. Real Sociedad, on the other hand, will rely on its talented young players, such as Ander Barrenetxea and Brais Méndez, to cause an upset. The Real Madrid team has a strong record against Real Sociedad, having won six of their last 10 meetings, and will look to continue this trend in the semifinals. The Copa del Rey is one of the most prestigious tournaments in Spanish football, and the semifinals promise to be exciting matches.
The schedule for the semifinals is as follows:
- Barcelona vs. Atlético de Madrid (first leg): Tuesday, March 2024
- Real Sociedad vs. Real Madrid (first leg): Wednesday, March 2024
- Atlético de Madrid vs. Barcelona (second leg): Wednesday, April 2, 2024
- Real Madrid vs. Real Sociedad (second leg): Tuesday, April 1, 2024
The players to watch in the semifinals include Julián Álvarez, Kylian Mbappé, Ferran Torres, and Luka Modric, among others. The teams will need to be at their best to advance to the final, and the matches promise to be intense and exciting. The Copa del Rey semifinals are a crucial stage of the tournament, and the teams will give their all to reach the final.
madrid real atl barcelona copa rey sociedad del tico u00e9tico
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