>>>Match preview and tips provided by SVB Tips on Tipstrr
In the first leg of the Copa del Rey semi-finals, Barcelona will host Atletico Madrid at Camp Nou, with the home team currently sitting atop La Liga, while their visitors are in third place.
The Catalan giants come into this match in excellent form, with five consecutive wins, conceding only one goal in the process. Hansi Flick's men haven’t lost a match since their defeat to Atletico Madrid at home in the league, a setback that came 13 matches ago, with 11 wins and 2 draws since then.
Barcelona arrive fresh from a 2-0 win over Las Palmas, where Dani Olmo and Ferran Torres scored in the second half. With that result, Barcelona remain at the top of the table, tied on points with Real Madrid. They last won the Copa del Rey in the 2020-2021 season, and this is their second semi-final appearance since then. To get here, they've had an impressive run, including three victories with at least a four-goal margin, including a 5-0 win over Valencia.
As for the squad, Lamine Yamal is a doubt after picking up a foot injury against Las Palmas. If he can’t play, Ferran Torres will take his spot. Araujo, De Jong, Olmo, and Inigo Martinez could all feature in the starting lineup to bring fresh legs after coming off the bench last weekend. Lewandowski and Raphinha remain untouchable in attack.
On the other hand, Atletico Madrid are in the semi-finals for the second consecutive year, hoping to fare better than last year, when they were eliminated by Bilbao with a 0-4 aggregate score. The team faces a grueling schedule, with a Champions League double against Real Madrid and three matches against Barcelona in the span of a month.
Atletico are one point behind Barcelona in La Liga, following their 3-0 win over Valencia, with Julio Alvarez scoring twice, taking his tally to 17 goals across all competitions.
In the Copa del Rey, Atletico secured a 5-0 win at home against Getafe, and they’ve yet to concede a goal in the competition this year. However, they’ve struggled on recent visits to Barcelona, with a win and three losses in their last four trips to Camp Nou.
Diego Simeone has confirmed that Musso will start in goal, as he’s the cup goalkeeper. Pablo Barrios returns to the midfield after serving a suspension, and Rodrigo De Paul will also start, especially with Koke being a doubt. Azpilicueta is unavailable due to an injury against Valencia. Up front, Giuliano Simeone will support Griezmann and Alvarez, while Sorloth could once again be the secret weapon.
Previous Encounters:
- In La Liga, Atletico won 2-1 at Camp Nou earlier this season, ending a three-match Barcelona win streak at home against Atletico.
Betting Tips:
- Barcelona to win: Barcelona have been in excellent form, and with their home advantage, they are favourites to win this match.
- Over 2.5 goals: Both teams have been involved in high-scoring games recently, and with key players like Lewandowski and Griezmann on the pitch, goals are expected.
- Both teams to score: Atletico have been scoring consistently, and Barcelona’s defense, while solid, isn’t impenetrable.
- Anytime Goalscorer – Ferran Torres: With Lamine Yamal potentially sidelined, Torres could take a more prominent role in attack.