Can Barcelona overturn a 4-0 deficit?

Barcelona face an uphill battle to reach the Copa del Rey final

Barcelona arrive at the second leg of their Copa del Rey semi-final with a four-goal mountain to climb after Atlético Madrid routed them 4-0 in the first meeting. That margin leaves very little margin for error and shifts the tie into a must-win, high-pressure evening at Camp Nou.

Hansi Flick’s selection problems deepen the challenge. Key players are listed as doubtful or unavailable — notably Gavi and Robert Lewandowski — and Barcelona also have concerns over Andreas. Those absences reduce the manager’s tactical flexibility and rob the side of trusted attacking and creative options. Ronald Araújo’s possible return has been floated, but he has had limited minutes since coming back from a mental‑health break, which means relying on a defender who is still being reintegrated rather than a fully seasoned starter.

How Barcelona can try to bridge the gap

• Go ultra‑attacking early: they must score quickly to build momentum and force Atlético out of their defensive posture. An early goal would be essential to change the tie’s narrative.
• Exploit set pieces and set‑piece specialists: with open play limited, corners and free kicks become higher‑value opportunities.
• Rotate intelligently: fresh legs off the bench could help press late if minutes are conserved early.

Why the outcome matters beyond one match

A comeback would not only send Barcelona into a domestic cup final but also ease mounting pressure on Flick and the squad given recent heavy defeats. Failure to overturn the deficit will instead crystallize calls for a summer clear‑out and intensify scrutiny over fitness management and squad depth. With Atlético carrying a commanding lead and Barcelona hampered by key doubts and absences, the tie looks weighted against the home side — but football history still offers rare reversals when urgency and crowd energy meet clinical finishing.