Barcelona Leads Atletico 3-0
Barcelona led Atletico Madrid 3-0 in Copa del Rey action with Rapinha scoring a highlight, putting them halfway to advancement despite a tight aggregate. Meanwhile, Liverpool was held 0-0 by Wolves late in Premier League action.
Despite Barcelona's dominant 3-0 victory at Camp Nou, it was Atlético Madrid who advanced to the Copa del Rey final. The home side's furious comeback fell just short, with Atlético moving on thanks to a 4-3 aggregate score. The damage was done in the first leg in Madrid, where Atlético stunned Barcelona with a decisive 4-0 victory, scoring all four goals before halftime. That commanding lead proved just enough to withstand the second-leg onslaught. In the return match, 18-year-old Marc Bernal was a standout for Barcelona, scoring two of the team's three goals. Raphinha converted a penalty kick in first-half added time for the other, but the crucial fourth goal never materialized for the Catalan club. Atlético Madrid will now advance to the Copa del Rey final for the first time since the 2012-13 season. They will face the winner of the other semifinal between Real Sociedad and Athletic Bilbao for the championship title. Contrary to initial reports of a draw, Liverpool suffered a stunning 2-1 defeat to last-place Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Premier League. The loss was sealed by a dramatic stoppage-time winner at Molineux Stadium. The upset was particularly notable as Wolves, who are facing relegation, didn't register their first shot of the match until the 78th minute when Rodrigo Gomes scored to take a 1-0 lead. Liverpool's Mohamed Salah appeared to salvage a point, ending his 10-game league goal drought with an equalizer in the 83rd minute. However, a deflected shot from Brazilian midfielder Andre in the 94th minute secured the improbable victory for Wolves. The defeat is a significant blow to Liverpool's aspirations for a top-five finish and qualification for the Champions League. The Reds remain in fifth place in the Premier League table.
