Copa Del Rey
2026-02-12 - Atletico Madrid vs Barcelona
A Sports Betting Pick by Gladiator
Football: Copa Del Rey - Semi-Finals
Metropolitano Stadium (Madrid), Spain
Thursday, 12th February 2026 - Kick Off 21:00 CET
Atletico Madrid
Atletico Madrid enter this semi-final under pressure, having followed up their emphatic 5-0 Copa del Rey win over Betis with a disappointing 1-0 home defeat to the same opponent in La Liga.
That result highlights their inconsistency in 2026, with Diego Simeone’s side managing just four wins from ten outings across all competitions this year.
The Metropolitano has not been the fortress it usually is either, with Atleti suffering back-to-back home defeats for the first time since April.
Even so, there are factors working in their favour. Atl Madrid have won nine of their last 12 matches played on a Thursday, and the Copa del Rey remains a competition in which Simeone still burns for success; their last triumph dates back to 2013.
With Barcelona visiting wounded by absences and the stakes sky-high, Atlético will expect a much sharper display than the one seen on Sunday.
Barcelona
Barcelona arrive with momentum and pedigree, having lifted the Copa del Rey last season and now targeting yet another final. Hansi Flick’s side have advanced comfortably through each round so far, scoring exactly twice in all three of their cup games this season.
Their current six-game winning streak across all competitions includes a commanding 3-0 victory over Mallorca at the weekend, keeping confidence high.
Travelling doesn’t faze this Barca side either; they’ve won eight of their last nine away matches and 11 of their last 12 away Copa del Rey fixtures, which explains their strong favouritism on paper.
However, the absence of attackers Marcus Rashford, Raphinha and Pedri slightly weakens their firepower and could make this encounter more tactical and cagey than previous H2Hs.
Betting Verdict
While Barcelona are in excellent form, this fixture tends to bring out Atletico’s most disciplined and combative performances.
Simeone’s men are often extremely tough to beat at home when the pressure is at its peak, and despite their inconsistencies, they have the tools to frustrate a Barcelona side missing key offensive players.
With the tie likely to be tight and tense, siding with Atletico on the +0.5 Asian Handicap, covering both a draw and a home win, looks the value play.
The Pick :
Atletico Madrid 1-1 Barcelona
