Copa del Rey: Real Madrid, Barcelona semifinals – start, date, lineup, news

Who: Real Sociedad vs. Real Sociedad, Barcelona vs. Atletico Madrid
What: Spanish Copa del Rey – semifinals, second leg
Where: Madrid, Spain
When: Tuesday, April 1 and Wednesday, April 2

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Real Madrid and Barcelona will temporarily veer from the LaLiga title race to concentrate on their respective Copa del Rey semifinal games in midweek.

Real Madrid host Real Sociedad in the famous Bernabeu, while semifinal 2 pits rival rivals Atletico from across town at Metropolitano Stadium as they attempt to take the lead in the LaLiga title game at home against Barcelona.

What is the essential information for Copa del Rey semifinal matches:

What’s going on in the Copa del Rey semifinals after the first leg?

Real Sociedad versus Real Real Madrid (1st leg – February 26):

Real Sociedad’s Copa del Rey semifinal first-leg encounter was marred by further racist abuse of Brazilian international Vinicius Junior after Real Madrid won 1-0.

Endrick, a fellow Brazilian forward, scored the game’s only goal in the first half at San Sebastian’s Reale Arena (Anoeta Stadium).

Barcelona vs. Atletico Madrid (1st leg – February 25):

In the first leg of the Copa del Rey semifinal between Barcelona and Atletico Madrid at the Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys (Barcelona Olympic Stadium), Barcelona and Atletico both came from two goals down to draw 4-4 in Barcelona, Spain.

In the final ten minutes, Atletico scored twice in the opening six minutes, including Alexander Sorloth’s equalizer three minutes into stoppage time, before conceding four unanswered goals.

Inigo Martinez of FC Barcelona celebrates with his teammate Jules Kounde’s third goal in Barcelona, Spain’s Copa del Rey semifinal against Atletico de Madrid on February 25, 2025.

What time and place are the semifinal deciders?

On April 1 at 9 p.m. local time (19: 30 GMT), Real Madrid vs. Real Sociedad (2nd leg).
On April 2, at 9 p.m. local time (19: 30 GMT), Atletico Madrid vs. Barcelona will play their second leg.

The Copa del Rey is what?

Spain’s oldest national football competition, which dates back to 1903, is the Copa del Rey.
With 31 titles to its name, Barcelona is the most successful club in the history of the competition. Real Madrid leads with 20 victories, while Bilbao, who are currently in the lead, has 24.
The Copa del Rey, or King’s Cup, is equivalent to an English side winning the FA Cup for Spanish clubs.

Are Real Madrid and Barcelona’s top super clubs important for winning the Copa del Rey?

Yes . Real Madrid and Barcelona both have plans to win a potential trophy treble in the 2024-2005 campaign, including LaLiga, the Copa del Rey, and the UEFA Champions League.

Real Madrid vs. Real Sociedad lineups and team news

Possible starting XI for Real Madrid: Lunin, Vazquez, Asensio, Rudiger, F Garcia, Valverde, Tchouameni, Bellingham, Rodrygo, Mbappe, Vinicius Jr.

With Vinicius Jr., Rodrygo, and Fede Valverde likely to start following their country commitments during the FIFA window, manager Carlo Ancelotti may look to re-sign some of his household names for the Copa del Rey semifinal.

According to reports from Mundo Deportivo, first-choice goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois may miss the Copa semifinal because he didn’t play against Leganes last Saturday.

Remiro, Traore, Zubeldia, Elustondo, Munoz, Sucic, Zubimendi, Marin, Kubo, Oyarzabal, Barrenetxea, and others are starting in Real Sociedad.

Brais Mendez’s injury is unlikely to be a factor, but forward Ander Barrenetxea will start after being suspended.

Thibaut Courtois reacts. — Before his team’s Copa del Rey semifinal, leg 2 clash with Real Sociedad on April 1, Aitor Alcalde/Getty Images, Thibaut Courtois is suffering from an injury.

Possible lineups and team news for Barcelona vs. Atletico Madrid

Oblak, Llorente, Le Normand, Lenglet, Azpilicueta, Simeone, Gallagher, Barrios, Lino, Alvarez, Griezmann, and other starting XIs at Atletico Madrid:

Julian Alvarez, an Argentinian striker, is likely to be a major problem for Barca upfront, according to manager Diego Simeone. The Copa del Rey leader in this year’s scoring position is Alvarez, who has five goals.

Szczesny, Kounde, Araujo, Martinez, Balde, Gavi, Pedri, Yamal, de Jong, Raphinha, Lewandowski, and others could start for Barcelona.

Important midfielder Dani Olmo, who is currently expected to be out until late April, will still be without, according to Barcelona manager Hansi Flick.