Copa del Rey tie finely poised as Barcelona and Atletico Madrid play out eight-goal thriller

Barcelona and Atletico Madrid could not be separated in the first stage of their Copa del Rey Semi-final draw, because they played a sensational 4-4 draw at the Estadi Olimpic Lluis Company in Montjuic.

It was a dream start for the visitors when they took the lead within the first 60 seconds. The cross of Antoine Griezmann was implemented by on-Loan Barcelona defender Clement Lenglet, and on the Achterste post Julian Alvarez brought an early advantage in the back of the net.

It would be even better for Athleti, because they went 2-0 only five minutes later. Alvarez did well to win the ball back in his own half before he drove ahead and found Griezmann, who showed calm to defeat Wojciech Szczesny in the 1-on-1.

Barcelona was shocked at that time, although they succeeded in regrouping soon after, and this led to two quick -fire goals. It went 1-2 when Jules kounded the ball back to Pedri cut home from 12 meters, and less than a minute later the equalizer arrived for the Catalans when Pau Cubarsi scored his first goal for the club from a Raphinha corner .

Just before the interval, Barcelona completed a sensational first half comeback. The third goal came again from a Raphinha corner, and on this occasion it was the unmarked Inigo Martinez who went home at the back post.

It took until the 74th minute for a sixth goal to arrive and it went to Barcelona. Lamine Yamal did brilliant to have a chance for replacement Robert Lewandowski who could not miss up close. Atleti, however, was not ready either and they made it 4-3 not long after when Marcos Llorente shot home from the edge of the box.

Sensational made Athleti the same in the dying minutes – and just like in the La Liga meeting in December, it was Alexander Sorloth that found the back of the net to generate jubilant scenes in the road.

Atletico Madrid will certainly be the happier of the two teams with this result, especially in the circumstances. Barcelona will be furious to leave a lead of two goals away, and they must now win at the Metropolitano within five weeks.