️ Atletico Madrid scraped into the Copa del Rey final with a 4-3 aggregate win, despite a 3-0 defeat in the semifinal second leg at Barcelona.
️ The Spanish champions nearly produced a historic comeback after a 4-0 first-leg loss in early February, but fell just short at Camp Nou.
️ Eighteen-year-old Marc Bernal scored twice for the record 32-time winners, and Raphinha netted a penalty, as Barcelona tried in vain to overturn the deficit against Diego Simeone's side.
️ Atletico, who clung on desperately in the closing stages, returned to the final for the first time since 2013.
️ They will face Real Sociedad or Athletic Bilbao, who meet on Wednesday in the second semifinal leg.
️ Barcelona started strongly, with Fermin Lopez's long-range effort just over the bar setting the tone, as Hansi Flick's side threw everything into a potential comeback.
️ They suffered an early setback when Jules Kounde went off injured in the opening minutes. Antoine Griezmann came close against his former club, while Atletico threatened on the counterattack.
️ Ferran Torres fired wide and had a shot saved low by Atletico goalkeeper Juan Musso before Barcelona took the lead.
️ Teenager Lamine Yamal drilled across goal for Bernal to finish from close range, one 18-year-old assisting another.
️ Ademola Lookman headed narrowly off-target for Atletico and rued the miss as Barca doubled their advantage before halftime.
️ Spain midfielder Pedri was tripped in the box by Marc Pubill, and Raphinha sent Musso the wrong way from the spot.
️ Joao Cancelo almost grabbed a third, but his shot was beaten away by Musso at full stretch, with Diego Simeone's team on the ropes.
️ Bernal set up a frantic finale by volleying home Cancelo's cross to bring Barca within one goal of the crumbling Rojiblancos.
️ Flick pushed centre-back Ronald Araujo up front in the final stages, searching for a fourth goal to "make the impossible possible", as he urged his team pre-match.
️ Gerard Martin hammered narrowly over the bar as Barca turned the screw, with fans roaring support through six minutes of stoppage time.
️ The Rojiblancos held off Barca and booked their place in the Seville final on April 18.
️ Musso said reaching the final was the most important thing.
️ "Barcelona are one of the best teams in the world, but we got through," he said post-match.
️ "We are going to the final; we will give our everything and win the Copa del Rey."
️ Meanwhile, Raphinha expressed pride in his teammates, even in defeat.
️ "The fans saw we gave everything. You have to understand, we faced a side defending well and doing what they needed... We did everything possible, but lacked a bit," he said.
️ "Today is in the past. We wanted to reach the final, but it happens... For now, we will go for the La Liga and Champions League titles."
Source: www.aljazeera.com