Griezmann, Lookman and Alvarez struck in 4-0 first-leg victory
\n LONDON
\nAtletico Madrid hammered Copa del Rey holders Barcelona 4-0 on Thursday in the first leg of their semi-final.
\nAfter an Eric Garcia own goal sent Diego Simeone\u2019s side ahead early on, Antoine Griezmann, Ademola Lookman and Julian Alvarez struck to give Atletico a landslide lead by half-time.
\nBarca defender Garcia was sent off in the final stages, with Atletico maintaining their significant advantage on the record 32-time winners, which they will take into the second leg at Camp Nou on March 3.
\nBoth sides missed good chances in the second half, with Barca\u2019s Pau Cubarsi having a goal disallowed before Garcia was sent off in the final stages.
\nAtletico were able to preserve their significant advantage on the record 32-time winners, which they will take into the second leg at Camp Nou on March 3.
\n\u201cIn the first 45 minutes we got a great lesson for us. Sometimes it\u2019s good to get (that) in the right moment, maybe today is the right moment,\u201d Flick told reporters.
\n\u201cThe second half was much better and we have one game more and we will fight (to win) that.\u201d
\nWell off the pace in La Liga and not showing the quality of a side likely to go deep in the Champions League, the Copa del Rey represents Atletico\u2019s best chance of silverware this season.
\nWith that motivation in mind, the Rojiblancos conjured the best football of their season to completely dismantle the Spanish champions in the first half, as the fans lapped it up.
\n\u201cI think our fans need these games, they\u2019ve been coming for years, pushing, they\u2019re always there, they need big matches,\u201d said Simeone.
\n\u201cWe had a great first half, reading the game very well, we were very efficient and calm in the final third.\u201d
\nThe hosts took the lead after seven minutes when Garcia\u2019s pass, on the uneven Metropolitano stadium pitch, bobbled towards Joan Garcia and then under the goalkeeper\u2019s foot and into the net.
\nFormer Barca striker Griezmann slid home the second as Atletico breached the Catalans\u2019 high defensive line repeatedly, leaning on the pace of Giuliano Simeone and Lookman.
\nFermin Lopez hit the crossbar for Barcelona but it was one-way traffic and Atletico nearly got a third when Alvarez\u2019s effort was cleared off the line by Jules Kounde.
\nEventually Nigeria international Lookman steered home the third at the end of a fine team move, with overjoyed Atletico coach Simeone racing down the touchline in celebration.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Griezmann, Lookman and Alvarez struck in 4-0 first-leg victory LONDON Atletico Madrid hammered Copa del Rey holders Barcelona 4-0 on Thursday in the first leg of their semi-final. After an Eric Garcia own goal sent Diego Simeone\u2019s side ahead early on, Antoine Griezmann, Ademola Lookman and Julian Alvarez struck to give Atletico a landslide lead […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-531285","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-sports"},"yoast_head":"\n