When facing a 4-0 defeat in the first leg, the second leg often feels like a mere formality—a slow exit from the competition. For most teams, a four-goal deficit against an Atletico Madrid managed by Diego Simeone may seem insurmountable.
Tomorrow night, Barcelona will confront just that as they meet Los Rojiblancos in the second leg of the Copa del Rey semi-finals.
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Although the task at hand for Hansi Flick’s side is daunting, the atmosphere in Barcelona is charged with that familiar ‘remontada’ spirit. The team strongly believes in their potential to overcome this challenge and reach the final.
Here are five reasons why a comeback is a genuine possibility.
1. The Flick Factor
Hansi Flick is known for his high-intensity, attacking style of football. His teams excel at high pressing, which can overwhelm even the most organized defenses.
Importantly, Flick has a favorable record against Simeone. Since taking charge at Barcelona, he has secured three wins, one draw, and two losses against Atletico. Additionally, he won one of his two encounters with El Cholo during his time at Bayern Munich.
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Flick stated today that the aim is to score “two goals in each half”, which breaks a monumental challenge down into more attainable targets.
Flick’s superior record against Simeone demonstrates his effectiveness. (Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images)
A coach with confidence in his plan instills belief in his players. Barcelona will enter the second leg with a clear tactical approach rather than mere hope.
2. Comebacks are in Barcelona’s DNA
No club’s history embodies resilience quite like Barcelona’s.
They have memorable moments, such as the 2013 game when they overturned a 2-0 deficit against AC Milan with a remarkable 4-0 victory at Camp Nou. Perhaps even more iconic is the 2017 remontada against PSG, where they came back from a 4-0 first-leg loss to win 6-1 in a stunning finish.
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This “never-give-up” mentality has defined the 2025/26 season as well. Under Flick, Barcelona has gained more points from losing positions than any other team in Europe’s top five leagues.
In the Champions League, they triumphed after trailing against clubs like Eintracht Frankfurt, Slavia Prague, and Copenhagen. This team has consistently demonstrated that a deficit on the scoreboard is merely a temporary obstacle, not a final outcome.
3. A Potent Attack
For a comeback to be feasible, a team must possess a potent attack, and Barcelona is generating opportunities with remarkable frequency and efficiency in recent matches.
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In fact, they scored seven goals in their last two games, including a commanding 4-1 victory over Villarreal, where Lamine Yamal delivered a stunning hat-trick.
Under Flick, Barcelona has scored four or more goals in 29 out of his 100 matches—twice against Atletico Madrid. Furthermore, they have won twelve matches by four goals or more.
With quick passing, strategic wide play, and well-timed runs, Barcelona has the talent to score multiple goals in one game.
4. Atletico’s Vulnerabilities
Once a bastion of defensive strength, Atletico Madrid has exhibited a more vulnerable side this season. Simeone’s squad has alternated between impressive performances and surprising collapses.
This season, Atletico’s consistency has been lacking. (Photo by Aitor Alcalde/Getty Images)
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Just last month, they faced a disheartening 3-0 loss to Rayo Vallecano and have recently endured unexpected setbacks in Europe, losing to Bodø/Glimt and drawing against teams like Galatasaray and Club Brugge.
Despite their strong first-leg performance, Atleti’s away form in 2026 has shown that they can be vulnerable.
If Barcelona can apply early pressure and energize the crowd at Spotify Camp Nou—where they boast an impeccable home record this season—they could exploit the weaknesses in Simeone’s defense.
5. Historical Evidence
If anyone doubts the possibility of scoring four goals against Atletico, they need only recall the Copa del Rey semi-final from last season. In a match deemed an all-time classic, Barcelona demonstrated their ability to dismantle Simeone’s defense quickly.
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Despite a dreadful start that left them down 2-0 within six minutes, the Blaugrana launched a historic comeback, netting four unanswered goals in the next 55 minutes. Pedri ignited the revival in the 19th minute, followed swiftly by a Pau Cubarsi header just two minutes later. Inigo Martinez turned the tide just before halftime, and Robert Lewandowski capped the comeback in the 74th minute with a goal that made it 4-2.
While that match ended in a dramatic 4-4 draw, it stands as definitive proof that such comebacks are possible.
It was no fluke; later that same season in La Liga, Barcelona visited the Metropolitano and secured a 2-4 victory after being down by two goals until the 70th minute.
Barcelona already has the game plan; now they just need to implement it while ensuring their defense remains steadfast.