Three talking points as Barcelona attempt to do the impossible against Atletico Madrid in the Copa del Rey | OneFootball

FC Barcelona have an important week in their 2025–26 season that could decide their fate in the Copa del Rey. The Catalan club is clinging on for dear life in the competition as they look to do the impossible against Atletico Madrid.

Los Colchoneros thumped Barcelona 4–0 in the first leg of the semi-finals at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano, and if Hansi Flick’s men want to do the unthinkable and book a place in the final, they need to score a minimum of four goals without conceding in return.

It is not something Barcelona have not done in the past, having famously pulled off a similar heist against PSG exactly 9 years ago. However, things are different now, and putting four or more past Atletico might be easier said than done.

All things considered, here are three talking points as Barcelona attempt to come back from a 4–0 deficit against Atletico Madrid at the Spotify Camp Nou.

1: The familiarity factor

Although it is hard to say whether it counts for much, the sense of having been there and done that could give Barcelona a psychological edge against Atletico Madrid. It could help them break the task down into smaller targets.

As Hansi Flick mentioned, the best approach would be to split it into two halves, where Barcelona need a 2–0 scoreline in each. That makes it look far less daunting than thinking about scoring four goals at once.

If there is one thing we know about Flick’s side, it is that they score a truckload of goals on a consistent basis. Just last weekend, they scored four past third-placed Villarreal and could do the same against Atletico Madrid.

Of course, there is also the caveat of having to prevent Atletico Madrid from scoring on the night, which is perhaps even more difficult. A lot of ‘ifs’ need to go Barcelona’s way if they are to pull off a miracle.

2: The starting XI and the set-up

It is no secret that Barcelona need goals, and they need them in plenty. Thus, it would come as no surprise to see Hansi Flick go for it with his starting XI, which could mean an even more attack-minded outlook than usual.

It would not be a surprise to see the German manager line up with two attack-minded full-backs such as Alejandro Balde and Joao Cancelo. This could see Jules Kounde move into central defence in place of the suspended Eric Garcia.

More than the XI and the formation, it is the intent that matters. Barcelona need to be on Atletico’s throats from minute one in a bid to rattle them. Nothing would achieve that better than an early goal to set the cat among the pigeons.

The last thing Barcelona can do is start the game as they did at the Metropolitano, and the hope is that Flick gets his XI spot on to get the best out of the players at his disposal.

3: The return of Pedri and the absence of Lewandowski

First things first, Pedri is back. Having played two important cameos off the bench in his last couple of games, there is little doubt the Canary Islands midfielder will start against Atletico Madrid at the Camp Nou.

Pedri’s presence would make Barcelona better than they have been at any point in the last few weeks. However, in a game where the Catalan club desperately needs goals, they will have to do it without their star striker, Robert Lewandowski.

The Pole may no longer be the lethal force he once was, but his aerial threat could have been a useful pivot for Barcelona in the game. Should it go to a penalty shootout, he is also one of the team’s better penalty-takers.

So, while it is great news that Pedri is back, the absence of Lewandowski takes some sheen off, and it remains to be seen how Flick deals with the situation as he tries to engineer a ‘remontada’ against Diego Simeone’s side.