While struggling in La Liga and in third place, and failing to make the top eight in the Champions League, Atletico Madrid is flying high in the Spanish King's Cup - after a convincing victory over Betis (5:0) in the quarter-finals last week, the "Colchoneros" outclassed Barcelona (4:0) in the first leg of the semi-finals last night.
Atletico is one step away from the final, but they will have to wait until the second leg, scheduled for March 3rd in Barcelona, to celebrate.
"We had incredible energy in the stands, we had to use it. The four offensive players read the space very well. There are days when I think we lack determination, we will remember this game for our determination and energy. The players presented it in the best way," said Atletico coach Diego Simeone after the match.
The scorers for Madrid were Griezmann, Lukman, Alvarez and Garcia, who scored an own goal.
"I have faith in the team, in what we are doing, in our people. I am not a sorcerer who can predict what will happen. I felt that the team could play the way they played. The way we entered the duels with the opponents was incredible. What Simeone and Llorente were doing was fantastic," Simeone stressed.
Atletico last played in the King's Cup final in 2013, when they were better than city rivals, Real.
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