FC Barcelona faces a daunting task in the Copa del Rey semifinal second leg against Atlético de Madrid at Spotify Camp Nou, seeking to overturn a heavy 4-0 loss in the first match.
A vital boost for Barça is the return of Pedri, who missed the first leg and is expected to strengthen the midfield. Young talents like Lamine Yamal, who recently impressed with a hat-trick, along with Raphinha returning to form, provide attacking hope. However, the squad is severely depleted, missing Gavi, Christensen, de Jong, suspended Eric Garcia, and most notably, Lewandowski, who suffered a facial bone fracture and is out of the game.
Atlético, with a comfortable lead, is not planning a purely defensive approach. Coach Diego Simeone rested key players in their recent league match, showing his intent to focus fully on this cup tie. They have no major absences besides injured Pablo Barrios.
Barcelona’s likely setup features Pedri alongside Dani Olmo and Fermín in midfield, with Lamine Yamal, Raphinha, and Ferran Torres leading the attack, Torres taking up the striker role in Lewandowski’s absence.
For Barça, this match is a critical opportunity to keep their season’s treble ambitions alive. Despite the difficult situation and key injuries, Pedri’s return and the youthful energy of the squad offer real hope that overcoming such a big deficit is not impossible.
