Good evening everybody and welcome to another MARCA in English live blog, this time taking you through the Copa del Rey clash between Barcelona and Atletico Madrid at the Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys.
Barcelona, the most successful team in Copa del Rey history with 31 titles, will look to add another trophy to their collection. Meanwhile, Atletico Madrid, who have lifted the cup 10 times, are aiming for their first triumph in the competition since 2013.
While Barcelona remain focused on their La Liga and Champions League campaigns, they are not taking this tournament lightly. Under Hansi Flick, the Catalan side has been in formidable form, going unbeaten in their last 13 matches across all competitions. They have scored 14 goals in their Copa del Rey run so far, including a dominant 5-0 win over Valencia in the quarter-finals.
Atletico Madrid are also enjoying an impressive season under Diego Simeone. Sitting just one point behind Barcelona in LaLiga, they remain firmly in the title race. They are also set to face Real Madrid in the Champions League last 16, making the weeks crucial for their season.
Simeone's side has been in excellent form, going unbeaten in their last eight matches. They dismantled Valencia 3-0 in their most recent league outing and produced a similar dominant display in the Copa del Rey quarter-finals, thrashing Getafe 5-0.
Atletico secured a 2-1 victory over Barcelona in LaLiga earlier this season, breaking a run of five consecutive defeats against the Catalans. However, they have not beaten Barcelona in the Copa del Rey since April 2000. Their last meeting in this competition came in the 2016-17 semi-finals, where Barcelona advanced with a 3-2 aggregate win.
Barcelona vs Atletico Madrid LIVE - Latest Updates
Second Half ends, Barcelona 4, Atletico Madrid 4.
Offside, Atletico Madrid. Alexander Sørloth is caught offside.
GOAL - ATLETICO MADRID!
It's Sorloth at Montjuic again! Just like in the league game, the Norwegian scores in injury time. This time it's an equaliser but it will feel like a winner as Atletico claw themselves back into the tie.
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Delay in match (Barcelona).
Alexander Sørloth (Atletico Madrid) is shown the yellow card.
Fourth official has announced 4 minutes of added time.
Foul by Eric García (Barcelona).
Correa misses a huge chance!
Correa is played through on goal but loses his composure and ends up hitting a tame effort that is comfortably saved by Szczesny.
Pablo Barrios (Atletico Madrid) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Alejandro Balde (Barcelona) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Pablo Barrios (Atletico Madrid).
Lamine Yamal (Barcelona).
Reinildo (Atletico Madrid) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Substitution, Barcelona. Eric García replaces Pedri.
Substitution, Barcelona. Fermín López replaces Raphinha.
GOAL - ATLETICO MADRID!
Out of nowhere, Atletico are back in the tie. The ball falls to Llorente on the edge of the box who lashes an effort towards goal and, via a deflection from Gavi, it's in the back of the net.
Attempt saved. Raphinha (Barcelona) left footed shot from outside the box is saved.
José María Giménez (Atletico Madrid) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Gavi (Barcelona) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Robert Lewandowski (Barcelona).
Clément Lenglet (Atletico Madrid) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Hand ball by Lamine Yamal (Barcelona).
Lewandowski goes close!
A tantalising cross from Raphinha from the left is so nearly guided home by Lewandowski, but his toe poke goes wide of the mark.
GOAL - BARCELONA!
Lamine produces some fine skill down the right-hand side before squaring the ball to Lewandowski who has the easy task of tapping the ball home from close range.
Lamine Yamal (Barcelona) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Reinildo (Atletico Madrid).
Alejandro Balde (Barcelona) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Ángel Correa (Atletico Madrid).
Goal disallowed (Atletico)
Sorloth, on for Griezmann, slots the ball into an empty net. However, Llorente, who provided the assist, was in an offside position and the goal is disallowed.
Corner, Atletico Madrid. Conceded by Pau Cubarsí.
Substitution, Barcelona. Gavi replaces Dani Olmo.
Substitution, Barcelona. Robert Lewandowski replaces Ferran Torres.
Substitution, Atletico Madrid. Ángel Correa replaces Rodrigo De Paul.
Substitution, Atletico Madrid. Alexander Sørloth replaces Antoine Griezmann.
Substitution, Atletico Madrid. Nahuel Molina replaces Conor Gallagher.
Attempt missed. Samuel Lino (Atletico Madrid) left footed shot from a difficult angle on the left misses to the left.
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Lamine wants a penalty
Lamine Yamal appears to be tripped inside the area but the referee doesn't give a penalty. It looked like a clear trip on the winger, but even VAR doesn't intervene.
Corner, Barcelona. Conceded by José María Giménez.
Dani Olmo (Barcelona) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Conor Gallagher (Atletico Madrid).
Substitution, Atletico Madrid. Reinildo replaces Javi Galán.
Substitution, Atletico Madrid. Samuel Lino replaces Giuliano Simeone.
Alejandro Balde (Barcelona) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Giuliano Simeone (Atletico Madrid).
Attempt saved. Antoine Griezmann (Atletico Madrid) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Rodrigo De Paul.
Corner, Atletico Madrid. Conceded by Alejandro Balde.
Attempt blocked. Giuliano Simeone (Atletico Madrid) left footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Rodrigo De Paul.
Foul by Jules Koundé (Barcelona).
Javi Galán (Atletico Madrid) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Dani Olmo (Barcelona).
Javi Galán (Atletico Madrid) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Second Half begins Barcelona 3, Atletico Madrid 2.
First Half ends, Barcelona 3, Atletico Madrid 2.
Attempt saved. Dani Olmo (Barcelona) left footed shot from the left side of the box is saved.
Corner, Barcelona. Conceded by Juan Musso.
Fourth official has announced 5 minutes of added time.
Attempt missed. Alejandro Balde (Barcelona) left footed shot from the left side of the box.
Corner, Barcelona. Conceded by Conor Gallagher.
Attempt blocked. Lamine Yamal (Barcelona) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Raphinha (Barcelona) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Foul by Antoine Griezmann (Atletico Madrid).
GOAL - BARCELONA!
The comeback is complete! Barcelona are 3-2 up just before the break after having gone 0-2 down in the first six minutes. It's another goal from a corner, with Inigo Martinez this time getting the far post header.
Corner, Barcelona. Conceded by Javi Galán.
Offside, Atletico Madrid. Giuliano Simeone is caught offside.
Foul by Pedri (Barcelona).
Antoine Griezmann (Atletico Madrid) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Lamine Yamal (Barcelona) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Foul by Pablo Barrios (Atletico Madrid).
Attempt blocked. Ferran Torres (Barcelona) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
Foul by Alejandro Balde (Barcelona).
Giuliano Simeone (Atletico Madrid) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Corner, Barcelona. Conceded by Rodrigo De Paul.
GOAL - BARCELONA!
Barcelona are level! Cubarsi leaps highest at the back post and sends the ball into the back of the net. An incredible comeback from the Catalans!
Corner, Barcelona. Conceded by Conor Gallagher.
GOAL - BARCELONA!
Barcelona are back in it! A fine outside-of-the-foot from Lamine plays in Kounde down the right, who then cuts the ball back for Pedri. The Spanish midfielder, in space, calmly finishes into the bottom corner. Game on.
Corner, Barcelona. Conceded by Juan Musso.
Javi Galán (Atletico Madrid) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Lamine Yamal (Barcelona) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Foul by Javi Galán (Atletico Madrid).
Foul by Dani Olmo (Barcelona).
Conor Gallagher (Atletico Madrid) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Ferran spurns a golden chance!
Raphinha plays Ferran Torres through on goal but the Spanish forward rushes the finish and the goalkeeper is able to gather the ball in two attempts. A huge chance wasted for the hosts.
Attempt missed. Lamine Yamal (Barcelona) left footed shot from long range on the right.
Alejandro Balde (Barcelona) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Antoine Griezmann (Atletico Madrid).
Conor Gallagher (Atletico Madrid) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Jules Koundé (Barcelona).
Corner, Barcelona. Conceded by Giuliano Simeone.
GOAL - ATLETICO MADRID!
It's 2-0 to the visitors! Another swift counter-attack from Atletico ends with Griezmann sneaking the ball past Szczesny.
Conor Gallagher (Atletico Madrid) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Jules Koundé (Barcelona).
Javi Galán (Atletico Madrid) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Dani Olmo (Barcelona).
GOAL - ATLETICO MADRID!
Not even a minute has ed and Atletico take the lead! Griezmann whips in a fine cross to the back post which gets a flick-on, and Alvarez is there to prod the ball into the net.
Corner, Atletico Madrid. Conceded by Wojciech Szczesny.
Attempt saved. Julián Alvarez (Atletico Madrid) header from the centre of the box is saved in the top centre of the goal. Assisted by Antoine Griezmann with a cross.
First Half begins.
Atletico's confirmed starting XI
Diego Simeone names a strong side, although Musso enters for Oblak in goal, while the coach's son Giuliano gets another start as he continues to impress this season.
Atletico Madrid XI: Musso; Llorente, Gimenez, Lenglet, Galan; Giuliano, De Paul, Barrios, Gallagher; Griezmann, Julian Alvarez
Barcelona's confirmed starting XI
Hansi Flick has opted for Ferran Torres to lead the line in the first leg against Atletico Madrid, with Lewandowski benched.
Barcelona XI: Szczesny; Kounde, Cubarsi, Inigo Martinez, Balde; De Jong, Pedri, Olmo; Lamine Yamal, Raphinha, Ferran
Barcelona vs Atletico Madrid - Team News
Both sides are expected to field strong line-ups as they aim to gain an advantage before the return leg in April. With so much at stake, Barcelona will rely on their home advantage, while Atletico will look to maintain their impressive defensive stability.
Barcelona possible starting XI: Szczesny; Kounde, Araujo, I Martinez, Balde; De Jong, Pedri; Raphinha, Olmo, Yamal; Lewandowski
Atletico Madrid possible starting XI: Musso; Molina, Gimenez, Le Normand, Galan; Simeone, De Paul, Barrios, Lino; Griezmann, Alvarez?
Where to watch Barcelona vs Atletico Madrid?
For football fans eager to catch the Copa del Rey clash between Barcelona and Atletico Madrid, the match will be accessible through different channels in the USA and the UK.
In the United States, viewers can tune in to ESPN+, which holds exclusive broadcasting rights for the Copa del Rey matches. Meanwhile, in the United Kingdom, the match will be available on Premier Sports 2.
What time does Barcelona vs Atletico Madrid start?
The eagerly anticipated Copa del Rey match between Barcelona and Atletico Madrid is scheduled to kick off at 21:30 CET local time in Spain.
Viewers on the US East Coast can tune in at 15:30 ET for the live action. For those on the West Coast, the match starts at 12:30 PT. Football enthusiasts in the UK can catch the game starting at 20:30 GMT.
Match ends, Barcelona 4, Atletico Madrid 4.