Atlético put four unanswered goals past Barça in cup semi-final first leg | OneFootball

Four first-half goals have given Atlético de Madrid a big lead in the Copa del Rey semi-final with Barcelona finishing the game with 10 men.

In a remarkable night at the Metropolitano, the home side had the lead just six minutes into the game after some fascial scenes. Eric García's back-pass wasn't controlled by goalkeeper Joan García on a rainy night with the ball then finding its way into the net.

It was 2-0 in the 14th minute after Atleti got the ball down the pitch quickly with Nahuel Molina setting up Antoine Griezmann to score against his former club.

New signing Ademola Lookman found the net again for his new club in the 33rd minute after some neat play in behind the Barça defence with Julián Álvarez setting up the Nigerian to sweep home.

Then, just before the break it was 4-0 and it was a similar scenario. Again Atlético were in behind the defence only this time Lookman found Álvarez to hammer the ball past García.

Barcelona thought they had put themselves back in the tie early into the second half when Pau Cubarsí netted from a corner only for the goal to be disallowed after a lengthy review.

The visitors then had to play the final minutes with ten men after Eric García fouled Alex Baena who would otherwise have been through on goal to potentially net a fifth.

Hansi Flick's side now have it all to do in the second leg in Barcelona in early March.