Barça: Catalan press slams the Blaugrana

In the aftermath of FC Barcelona’s heavy defeat against Atlético Madrid (0-4) in the first leg of the Copa del Rey semi-final, the Catalan press has been harsh on the Barcelona team. Local media outlets are calling it a ‘disaster’ and a ‘disgrace’.

This was a rather unexpected result. FC Barcelona expected a tough match at Atlético Madrid, known for being difficult to beat at home, but the Catalans certainly did not imagine they would leave with a 4-0 defeat at the end of this Copa del Rey semi-final first leg.

An ‘absolute disgrace’

This Friday morning, the Catalan press is reeling. The daily newspaper Sport ran the headline ‘Total disaster’ on its front page, describing a team that ‘crashed and burned’ in its ‘worst match of the season’. On its website, the newspaper spoke of “overconfidence” for a team that was ‘brutally brought back to reality’ by an opponent that was ‘hungrier and better in every way’. The media even refers to an ‘absolute disgrace for Barça’.

For its part, Mundo Deportivo headlines with ‘red and white whirlwind’ and refers to the ‘worst first half of the Flick era’, with Barça conceding four goals in the first half. ‘Barça’s history is full of seemingly impossible comebacks, but this time the challenge is nothing short of epic,’ the daily newspaper said. ‘Miracles do happen, but reaching the final will depend on something much more powerful than the inexplicable,’ Sport also said.

Flick remains optimistic

After the match, Hansi Flick did not look for excuses, acknowledging that his team had completely fallen apart in the first half. “We didn’t play well in the first half, we didn’t play as a team. The distance between our players was much too great. We didn’t press as we wanted to. During the first 45 minutes, we were taught a lesson,‘ said the Barcelona coach. ’We still have one game left to come back. We have two 45-minute halves. Winning each half 2-0 will be our goal,” he added.

In Madrid, the press is obviously more positive. ‘What a lesson!’ headlines Marca, describing the first half as “historic”. ‘They crushed an unrecognisable Barcelona in the first half,’ revels the Madrid media. For AS, Atlético ‘has one foot in the Copa del Rey final thanks to a masterclass’ from Diego Simeone’s team. It is ‘a performance that will remain etched in the memory,’ the newspaper asserts. Will the second leg, scheduled for 3 March at Camp Nou, also be memorable? Barça has already proven in the past that it is capable of turning around compromised situations, so a comeback cannot be completely ruled out.