FC Barcelona - Atlético de Madrid: Confirmed Lineups - Copa del Rey 24/25

OFFICIAL: The starting lineups of FC Barcelona under Hansi Flick and Atlético de Madrid under Diego Simeone for the first leg of the Copa del Rey semifinals 2024/25 are now confirmed.

In order to strike first in the tie, Hansi Flick put all the 'meat on the grill', although with a couple of novelties. Iñigo Martínez returns to the center of defense to accompany Pau Cubarsí, while Frenkie de Jong and Dani Olmo regain their starting positions in midfield and will be alongside Pedri. Finally, Ferran Torres will rest Lewandowski in the center of the attack. The rest of the lineup will consist of the 'untouchables' of the German coach.

FC Barcelona Lineup

• Starting XI: Szczesny (P); Koundé, Pau Cubarsí, Iñigo Martínez, Balde; Frenkie de Jong, Pedri, Dani Olmo; Lamine Yamal, Raphinha, Ferran Torres.
• Bench: Iñaki Peña (P); Araujo; Gavi; Lewandowski; Fermín López; Casadó; Pau Víctor; Eric García; Kochen (P); Héctor Fort; Gerard Martín.
• Injured: Ter Stegen; Marc Bernal; Andreas Christensen.
• Suspended: None.

Significant changes in the eleven that played against UD Las Palmas in matchday 25 of LaLiga:

1. Iñigo Martínez will form a central duo with Pau Cubarsí
2. Dani Olmo will occupy the attacking midfield, Gavi is on the bench
3. Frenkie de Jong regains his starting position in the pivot, Casadó returns to the bench
4. Ferran Torres will be the center forward, Lewandowski rests

The Barça aims to lay the first stone on their path to the grand final of the Cup taking advantage of their spectacular form. The culés remain unbeaten in 2025, with a brutal record of 11 wins and 2 draws in the 13 matches they have played so far. The team's excellent moment invites hope for a victory that, in addition to being the first blow in a always complicated tie, would serve as 'revenge' for the defeat suffered against the rojiblancos in Montjuïc in the first round of LaLiga (1-2).

For that reason, Flick has come out with all the 'firepower' for the semifinal duel, but has included a couple of 'surprises' in his XI. Iñigo Martínez and Pau Cubarsí will form a central duo, while Frenkie de Jong returns to the pivot and will accompany Dani Olmo and Pedri in midfield. In attack, Ferran Torres regains his starting position and will be alongside Raphinha and Lamine Yamal in the forward line. Injured are Ter Stegen, Andreas Christensen and Marc Bernal  and due to technical decision Ansu Fati and Pablo Torre.

Atlético de Madrid Lineup

• Starting XI: Juan Musso; Javi Galán, Clément Lenglet, José María Giménez, Marcos Llorente; Conor Gallagher, Pablo Barrios, Rodrigo De Paul, Giuliano Simeone; Julián Alvarez, Antoine Griezmann.
• Bench: (coming soon).