FC Barcelona approach their Copa del Rey tie with Atlético de Madrid (21:00, La1, TV3, Movistar+) focused on the trophy and buoyed by growing self-belief. The squad maintains full respect for Simeone’s side, but inside the blaugrana dressing room there is a clear conviction: Lamine Yamal arrives at this moment in the best form of the season and can again be decisive.
The young winger has become a determining figure for Barça in the knockout competition, consistently playing the full 90 minutes in each cup match so far and contributing with work, discipline and commitment. His direct involvement is evident across three rounds: he assisted against Guadalajara in the round of 32, scored versus Racing de Santander in the round of 16 and again found the net at Carlos Belmonte against Albacete in the quarter-finals, confirming his reliability on cup nights.
That showing forms part of a scoring streak that underlines his excellent run of form. Yamal has scored in five consecutive games — against Oviedo, Elche and Mallorca in LaLiga, against Copenhagen in the Champions League and versus Albacete in the Copa del Rey quarter-final.
His record against Atlético also offers reasons for optimism: he has faced Simeone’s side six times and the tally is positive — five wins and one draw. He made a tangible impact recently with a goal in the last league meeting at the Metropolitano (2-4) and provided two assists in the semifinals of last season’s Copa del Rey, one in each leg, in a tie that ultimately went Barça’s way.
Yamal’s importance is also highlighted by his absence from the last Barça defeat to Atlético: he did not take part in the league match at Montjuïc in December 2024 (1-2). Now fully recovered from pubalgia and enjoying competitive continuity that has yielded 15 goals and 13 assists this season, he once again stands out as one of Barça’s chief assets to overcome Atlético and keep progressing in the Copa del Rey towards the final at La Cartuja.
