FC Barcelona and Atlético de Madrid delivered an epic match in the first leg of the Copa del Rey semifinals. Eight goals, excitement until the end, and a bittersweet feeling for the Culers.
Among all the protagonists, Pedri González excelled brightly. He played a great match, scored a goal, and was key in the team's play. But in the end, history repeated itself.
A Draw with a Bitter Taste
Barça had the match in their hands. With the 4-2 on the scoreboard and control of the game, it seemed that the ticket to the final was a bit closer.
But Atlético, true to their style, didn't give up and ended up drawing in added time. A 4-4 that leaves everything open for the return leg.
Pedri, who was substituted with the 4-3, couldn't hide his frustration. "The final draw leaves a bad taste," he confessed after the match in statements to TV3.
The Lesson They Still Haven't Learned
The Canarian midfielder was clear: the team didn't know how to manage the lead. "We had to be smarter with the ball at 4-2, it already happened to us in the League, and we weren't ready. We have to learn," he pointed out.
And indeed, just two months ago, in the League match against Atlético, something similar happened. Pedri excelled, scored a great goal, but the team ended up losing 1-2 in the last minutes. History repeated itself.
The blaugrana '8' insisted that the team must improve in these key moments. "We had to calm the match. Go for the fifth, yes, but with a clear head, with longer possessions, however, we rushed in several actions," he explained.
"Playing Like This, We're Almost Unstoppable"
Despite the final disappointment, Pedri focuses on the positives. Barça showed a great level during much of the match.
"Those 70 minutes in which we played a great match... playing like this, we're almost unstoppable," he stated.
The Tenerife native knows that the tie is still open and trusts that the team will learn from the mistakes. Barça will have the opportunity to redeem themselves in the return leg, where they will play with the clear objective of securing their place in the final.
Going for Revenge in the Return Leg
The draw hurt, but Barça is still alive in the Cup. With a Pedri in a state of grace and the team showing promising play, hopes remain intact.
The return leg remains, and the Culers know that if they manage to maintain concentration until the end, the ticket to the grand final will be closer. Will they learn the lesson?