In a dramatic first-leg encounter of the Copa del Rey semi-final, Atletico Madrid staged a remarkable comeback to secure a 4-4 draw against Barcelona. The match, held on Wednesday night, saw Barcelona dominate proceedings for the majority of the game. However, Atletico's resilience in the closing stages left the tie finely poised ahead of the second leg.
Barcelona took control early on and opened up a 4-2 lead, showcasing their attacking prowess. Yet, Atletico Madrid refused to capitulate, launching a spirited fightback that culminated in Alexander Sorloth's decisive equalizer. The Catalan club's defensive frailties were exposed, a point Barcelona's manager Hansi Flick did not shy away from addressing post-match.
"We had chances to go to the second leg with an advantage. We will have to talk a lot in the changing room about the goals we conceded… We have to correct the mistakes. The team is very young, there is a lot of room for improvement, but that is no excuse. They scored four goals against us and it's just too much for our standards." – Hansi Flick
Flick expressed his frustration over his side's defensive lapses, emphasizing that conceding four goals is unacceptable for a club of Barcelona's stature. Despite holding sway for 80 minutes, Barcelona's lack of concentration in the final moments allowed Atletico to capitalize, with Flick acknowledging the need for improvement.
"I am frustrated but still happy with many things I saw in the game. But the conceded goals can't happen," – Hansi Flick
Atletico Madrid's commendable performance drew praise from Flick, who acknowledged their determination and quality. He highlighted their ability to leave everything on the field as a testament to their strength and competitive spirit.
"Atletico played very well, we faced a good and strong team that left it all out there. But I think we dominated the game for 80 minutes, but in the last few minutes we didn't defend well. I couldn't believe the fourth goal." – Hansi Flick
Despite the disappointment, Flick remained optimistic about his team's prospects in the upcoming second leg. He noted the numerous chances Barcelona created and reiterated his belief in their ability to secure victory in the return fixture.
"I have warned the players not to concede any chances. I'm disappointed with the result because it was good to see how we managed to fight back after conceding two goals early and, even after we opened a 4-2 lead, we created a lot of chances… But it was all in vain because in the last few minutes we let them back into it," – Hansi Flick
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