Barcelona and Atletico cruise into Copa del Rey quarters with dominant performances

Barcelona and Atletico Madrid delivered emphatic victories in the Copa del Rey Round of 16, securing their spots in the quarter-finals with clinical displays on Wednesday.

Yamal Shines as Barcelona Thrash Betis

Barcelona dismantled Real Betis 5-1 at the Olympic Stadium, with 17-year-old prodigy Lamine Yamal stealing the spotlight. Yamal scored and contributed to two other goals in a dazzling performance, guiding the Catalans to victory. Barcelona scored 5 for the 2nd time in a week, after their dismantling of Real Madrid in the Super Coppa final last Sunday.

Gavi opened the scoring early, finishing a well-worked move set up by Dani Olmo, who started as a false nine in place of Robert Lewandowski. Jules Kounde added Barcelona’s second after a sublime assist from Yamal, while Raphinha, Ferran Torres, and Yamal himself completed the rout.

Despite a late penalty goal from Vitor Roque for Betis, Barcelona’s dominant attacking display, highlighted by Yamal’s individual brilliance, underscored their intent to add more silverware to their collection in 2025.

Atletico Extend Record-Breaking Streak with Elche Rout

Atletico Madrid also secured their place in the quarter-finals with a commanding 4-0 victory over Elche, extending their winning streak to 15 games—the longest in the club’s history.

Alexander Sorloth led the charge, scoring twice in the first half. The Norwegian capitalized on a loose ball in the box for his opener and converted a penalty after Bambo Diaby fouled Samuel Lino.

Elche’s hopes were further dashed early in the second half when Nico Mercau was sent off for a second yellow card. Atletico took full advantage, with Rodrigo Riquelme scoring a spectacular long-range goal, followed by Julian Alvarez’s clinical finish to seal the win.

Statistical Highlights

• Barcelona: Lamine Yamal shone with a goal and two assists, while Dani Olmo impressed in a false-nine role. The Catalans exploited Betis’ defensive vulnerabilities, scoring five goals from just six shots on target.
• Atletico Madrid: Sorloth’s clinical finishing brought his season tally to 10 goals in all competitions. Despite attempting only 14 shots—their fewest in the Copa del Rey this season—Atletico’s efficiency was unmatched, with 11 efforts hitting the target.

Looking Ahead

Barcelona and Atletico’s commanding performances set the tone for an exciting quarter-final stage. With Real Madrid and Athletic Bilbao also in action this week, the Copa del Rey promises more thrilling encounters as Spain’s top teams vie for glory.

Both clubs have demonstrated their readiness to challenge for domestic dominance, with Barcelona’s youthful dynamism and Atletico’s historic winning streak grabbing the headlines. Fans can expect more fireworks as the tournament progresses.