Key stats that give Barcelona the advantage over Atletico Madrid in Copa del Rey | OneFootball

Barcelona are set to take on Atletico Madrid for the second time this season, with this highly anticipated encounter coming in the Copa del Rey semi-finals.

Having already faced a 1-2 defeat against Diego Simeone’s side in La Liga, the Catalan giants will be eager to turn things around and make the most of their recent attacking form.

In their last four matches across all competitions, Barcelona have found the back of the net 12 times, showcasing their offensive strength ahead of this crucial tie.

Clashes between Barcelona and Atletico Madrid are always tightly contested, often decided by the narrowest of margins.

A look at their recent encounters highlights this fact, as three of their last five meetings have ended in a 1-0 scoreline.

However, while Atletico have posed challenges in the league, Barcelona hold a strong record against them in the Copa del Rey.

Barcelona’s record vs Atletico Madrid in Copa del Rey

To put things into perspective, the last time Barcelona suffered a Copa del Rey defeat against Atletico Madrid was in the second leg of the semi-finals during the 1999/00 season.

Since then, the Catalan side have dominated their encounters in this competition, winning five out of their last six matches. The only exception during this run was a draw.

Lionel Messi has scored a hat-trick vs Atletico in Copa del Rey. (Photo by Jasper Juinen/Getty Images)

A key aspect of Barcelona’s success in these fixtures has been their ability to score consistently. In four of those five wins, they have managed to score at least two goals.

The most recent Copa del Rey meeting between these two sides took place on 7 February 2017, ending in a 1-1 draw, with goals from Luis Suarez and Kevin Gameiro.

Messi has dominated this fixture

Barcelona’s dominance in this competition is further highlighted by individual performances, particularly from Lionel Messi.

In the five Copa del Rey victories over Atletico, Messi has contributed five goals, including a memorable hat-trick during the 2008/09 season.

Overall, in their last six Copa del Rey clashes against Atletico, Barcelona have scored 12 goals while conceding just five, a statistic that will give them confidence heading into this semi-final.

With a place in the Copa del Rey final at stake, Barcelona will aim to maintain their impressive record and secure a crucial victory over their Madrid rivals.

Given their attacking momentum and past performances in this competition, they will look to take full advantage and make a strong statement as they push for another domestic trophy.