FC Barcelona and Atlético Madrid are set to clash in the Copa del Rey semifinals, with the two-legged tie scheduled between February 25 and April 2.

But do you remember the last time Barça got eliminated by Atlético at this stage? It wasn’t just any defeat—it was one of the most dramatic moments in club football.

When Barça Faced Atlético Madrid With a Decimated Squad

While Barcelona hold a strong head-to-head record against Atlético Madrid, the last time Los Rojiblancos knocked the Blaugrana out at this stage was during the 1999/2000 season—and it happened under extraordinary circumstances.

The Copa del Rey semifinal landed right in the middle of the international break, and as a result, nine of Barça’s first-team players were away on national duty.

To make matters worse, the competition rules at the time for the Copa del Rey only allowed sides a maximum of three youth players per match, leaving Barcelona with a squad of ten players for the return leg against Atlético de Madrid who already won the first leg by 3-nil.

A Decision That Led to Forfeit and Elimination

Barça knew they were in trouble. They pleaded with the Spanish Football Federation to reschedule the match, but their request was denied. 

With no way to field a proper team, the club took a stand—they refused to play the second leg, opting to remain on the sidelines instead of taking the pitch.

What happened next? Atlético Madrid were awarded an automatic 3-0 win by forfeit, officially knocking Barcelona out of the tournament by 6-nil aggregate score and sending Atlético Madrid to the final.

Fast Forward to Today – Can Barça Get Revenge?

Now, almost 25 years later, Barça and Atlético meet again in the Copa del Rey semis. This time, both sides are stacked with top talent, and there’s no risk of history repeating itself.

Will Hansi Flick’’s men make it count and march to the final, or will Atlético prove to be their stumbling block once again? One thing’s for sure—this is a semifinal you don’t want to miss!