Barcelona will battle arch-rivals Real Madrid in a highly anticipated Copa del Rey final after edging past Atlético Madrid 1-0 at a charged Metropolitano Stadium on Wednesday, sealing a dramatic 5-4 aggregate triumph.
Following an action-packed first leg that ended in an eight-goal spectacle at Camp Nou, Ferran Torres delivered the decisive moment in the return fixture.
The Spanish forward capitalized on a perfectly timed pass from Lamine Yamal in the 27th minute, driving into the box before slotting a precise shot past Juan Musso into the bottom left corner.
Atlético Madrid fought relentlessly for an equalizer, with substitute Alexander Sorloth squandering a golden opportunity from close range.
However, Barcelona’s resilient defense ensured their passage to the final in Seville later this month.
Their triumph set up a blockbuster showdown with Real Madrid, who staged a dramatic comeback to secure a 4-4 draw against Real Sociedad on Tuesday, progressing 5-4 on aggregate.
This will mark the first time in over a decade that the two Spanish giants clash in the Copa del Rey final.
Historically, Real Madrid holds the upper hand in their 18 previous final meetings, leading with 11 victories, including a 2-1 win in the 2014 showdown in Valencia.
However, Barcelona have dominated their recent encounters, thrashing Los Blancos 4-0 at the Santiago Bernabeu in LaLiga last October and securing a commanding 5-2 triumph in the Spanish Super Cup final in Saudi Arabia in January.
Both clubs remain in contention for a treble this season, having advanced to the Champions League quarter-finals while also locked in an intense LaLiga title race.
Barcelona currently top the league with 66 points, three clear of second-placed Real Madrid, while Atlético sit third, trailing by six more points with nine matches remaining.
Next week, Madrid will head to London for a high-stakes clash with Arsenal in the Champions League, while Barcelona will host Borussia Dortmund.
The two rivals will then face off in the Copa del Rey final on April 26 at La Cartuja Stadium, promising yet another thrilling chapter in their storied rivalry.
