Just six minutes into the match, Eric Garcia attempted a routine back pass. The ball unexpectedly bounced awkwardly in front of Joan Garcia, who miscontrolled it, allowing it to roll slowly into the unguarded net. The own goal gifted Atletico Madrid an early lead and set the tone for the rest of the game.
The costly blunder immediately drew heavy criticism from fans, with many taking to social media to demand that head coach Hansi Flick reinstate veteran Polish goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny as the team’s first-choice starter.
However, the error proved to be only the beginning of a disastrous evening for the Catalan side. According to Opta statistics, this marked the first time since data collection began in the 2004/05 season that FC Barcelona conceded four goals in the first half of a domestic competition match.
The defeat was also Barcelona’s heaviest loss to Atletico Madrid since the 1942/43 season, when Atletico also secured a 4-0 victory in Spain’s top flight.
The emphatic win moves Atletico Madrid one step closer to lifting the Copa del Rey trophy, a title they have not claimed in 13 years.
Sources: Znews
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