Antoine Griezmann just couldn't resist a cheeky dig at his former employers. Despite a nerve-wracking night at the Camp Nou, Atletico Madrid have officially punched their ticket to the Copa del Rey final, and the French superstar was quick to ensure the Barcelona faithful felt every bit of the sting with a savage post on social media. It was a night of high drama in Catalonia as Hansi Flick’s side attempted a monumental comeback, but ultimately fell short of the miracle they required to overturn a heavy first-leg deficit.
Barcelona fell agonizingly short of a historic Copa del Rey comeback at the Spotify Camp Nou on Tuesday night, winning 3-0 on the night but bowing out 4-3 on aggregate against a resilient Atletico Madrid. Despite the heartbreak of missing out on the final, Brazilian star Raphinha struck an optimistic chord, insisting that the performance serves as a blueprint for the months ahead. The winger, who captained the side, believes that if Hansi Flick’s men maintain this level of intensity, they can still secure major silverware before the campaign concludes.
Barcelona have been hit by yet another significant fitness concern after Jules Kounde was forced off during the early stages of their high-stakes encounter against Atletico Madrid. The French international, who has been a pillar of Hansi Flick’s defensive unit this season, lasted just 11 minutes in the Copa del Rey clash before succumbing to what appeared to be a muscular issue.
Barcelona’s hopes of pulling off a historic comeback in the Copa del Rey have been met with a devastating setback. The Catalan giants have confirmed that star striker Robert Lewandowski will be unavailable for the crucial semi-final second leg against Atletico Madrid this Tuesday. The news comes at the worst possible moment for Hansi Flick’s side, who are already facing a mountain to climb after a disastrous first-leg performance at the Metropolitano.
Lamine Yamal is officially back to his best. After enduring a difficult period where the joy seemed to have vanished from his game, the teenage sensation exploded into life at the weekend, bagging a sensational hat-trick in Barcelona's 4-1 demolition of Villarreal. It was a performance that not only reaffirmed his status as the crown jewel of La Masia but also served as the perfect springboard for what many consider to be an impossible task lying ahead in the Copa del Rey.
The future of Atletico Madrid's star forward Antoine Griezmann has been a hot topic of debate, with recent speculation heavily linking him to a mid-season departure to Major League Soccer. Reports suggested an immediate move to Orlando City was on the cards, casting doubt on his continuation in the Spanish capital. However, the club's hierarchy has addressed these swirling rumours, suggesting that the move will not go through just yet.
Arsenal will face Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League last-16, while Liverpool have been paired with Galatasaray. Manchester City must overcome Real Madrid in order to keep their dreams of European glory in 2025-26 alive and Chelsea face a tough test against title holders Paris Saint-Germain. Newcastle are readying themselves for a clash with Barcelona and Tottenham will seek to put their Premier League struggles behind them when locking horns with Atletico Madrid.
La Liga president Javier Tebas has officially confirmed that the Spanish top flight remains committed to taking regular-season fixtures across the Atlantic. The outspoken league chief made it clear that despite previous setbacks and significant opposition from various stakeholders, the dream of staging a competitive Spanish match on American soil is very much alive.
Amid mounting speculation linking Barcelona with a blockbuster summer move for Atletico Madrid’s Julian Alvarez, the club's hierarchy has moved quickly to cool the rumours. As the Blaugrana navigate a pivotal stretch of their campaign by balancing Champions League ambitions with a steep domestic hill to climb, the message from the boardroom is one of absolute focus on the present. While the prospect of the Argentine World Cup winner arriving at Camp Nou has captivated fans, the club insist all transfer talks are firmly on hold.
After a defining era in the Spanish capital, French star Antoine Griezmann is preparing for an unexpected mid-season departure to the United States. As negotiations reach their final stages, one of La Liga's most iconic figures is ready to embrace a fresh challenge across the Atlantic, leaving a massive void in Atletico Madrid, just as the European campaign hits its critical climax.
Barcelona winger Raphinha has sounded a defiant battle cry as the Catalan giants face the monumental task of overturning a four-goal deficit in the Copa del Rey. Following a bruising 4-0 defeat against Atlético Madrid at the Metropolitano in the first leg of the semi-finals, many have written off the Blaugrana's chances of defending their domestic cup crown. However, the Brazilian international remains steadfast in his belief that Camp Nou could witness one of the competition's greatest-ever turnarounds.
Barcelona’s recruitment drive continues at a relentless pace despite the looming presidential elections. Sporting director Deco and head coach Hansi Flick have already reached a consensus on which positions need strengthening for next season, and the acquisition of a marquee centre-forward has been marked as the club's top strategic priority. While the Blaugrana hierarchy are fully aware that the market for elite 'number nines' will be incredibly tight this summer due to a lack of available talent and inflated price tags, they remain determined to find the right profile to lead their line.
The curtain appears to be falling on Antoine Griezmann's second act at Atletico Madrid, as speculation regarding a move to Major League Soccer reaches a fever pitch. Despite being in a rich vein of form for the Colchoneros, the French World Cup winner is increasingly expected to call time on his career in the Spanish capital at the end of the current campaign. While his existing contract at the Metropolitano is technically valid until 2027, there is a growing sense within the club and the wider footballing world that his departure this summer is becoming an inevitability.
U.S. Men's National Team midfielder Johnny Cardoso made sure his first Atletico Madrid goal was an important one as he helped lead his side to a Champions League win on Tuesday. Cardoso's go-ahead goal gave his side the lead, helping them to a win in the second leg of Atleti's clash with Club Brugge.
Orlando City are reportedly in talks to sign Atletico Madrid attacking midfielder Antoine Griezmann, according to The Athletic. The former France captain has a long-standing interest in Major League Soccer, and the Florida club is eager to sign the former France captain before the primary transfer window shuts on March 26. Griezmann has six goals in La Liga this season.
Diego Simeone has admitted he cannot offer certainties regarding Julian Alvarez’s long-term future at Atletico Madrid as Barcelona links intensify. While the Argentine forward has struggled for goals recently, his manager believes he is finally rediscovering his clinical edge. Despite a staggering €200 million valuation placed on the World Cup winner, the lure of a move to the Catalan giants continues to dominate the headlines in Spain.
Barcelona’s search for Robert Lewandowski’s successor has hit a massive roadblock after Atletico Madrid slapped a record-breaking valuation on Julian Alvarez. The Argentine forward has become the primary target for the Catalan giants, but the financial demands from the capital could make this one of the most expensive deals in football history.
One regular weekend of refereeing, that's all we ask for. Will never happen. At least not in the current climate - because if the fourth round of the FA Cup taught us anything, it's that the absence of VAR definitely doesn't mean an absence of controversy. The first half of the Aston Villa-Newcastle game alone made a compelling case for the continued use of technology for offside decisions and penalty claims.
Though the Premier League took a week off to allow for the FA Cup, there were still plenty of storylines to follow within England, while title races around the rest of Europe continue to take plenty of twists and turns.
Lionel Scaloni's plan to stop Lamine Yamal in La Finalissima has been revealed as Spain gear up to take on Argentina in Qatar. The European champions will take on the Copa America winners in Qatar next month in the pre-World Cup meeting in the national team equivalent of the now-defunct Intercontinental Cup. The game will see the Barcelona wonderkid come up against Lionel Messi for the first time.
Barcelona's players shared their concerns with manager Hansi Flick about his tactics in the wake of their 4-0 thrashing by Atletico Madrid in the semi-finals of the Copa del Rey. The result leaves the Blaugrana with a mountain to climb ahead of the second leg of the tie at Camp Nou in March, and the players have called on the manager to make changes to his system.
Barcelona wonderkid Lamine Yamal was ridiculed by Diego Simeone during the Blaugrana’s disastrous Copa del Rey defeat to Atletico Madrid. Hansi Flick’s side, who sit top of the Liga table, found themselves four goals down by half-time in the first leg of an epic cup clash at Riyadh Air Metropolitano. Simeone took great delight in reminding Yamal of the scoreline.
Atletico Madrid
.png?auto=webp&format=pjpg&width=3840&quality=60)
.png?auto=webp&format=pjpg&width=3840&quality=60)
.jpg?auto=webp&format=pjpg&width=3840&quality=60)
.jpg?auto=webp&format=pjpg&width=3840&quality=60)
.jpg?auto=webp&format=pjpg&width=3840&quality=60)
