Recalling last time Barca got eliminated by Atletico in Copa del Rey semis – they only had TEN players available for the match
Here’s another controversial chapter from Spanish football history.
Barcelona have been drawn to face Atletico Madrid in the Copa del Rey semifinals, with the clash set to take place over two legs between February 25 and April 2.
Looking at the head-to-head record, the odds are stacked in Barcelona's favour.
In fact, the last time Atletico managed to eliminate them at this stage was in the 1999/2000 season, but that defeat came under very... unusual circumstances.
In that match, the Catalans had only 10 players available, as the international break overlapped with the Copa del Rey clash, leaving nine first-team players away on duty.
On top of that, the rules only allowed three youth players to be included.
Barcelona pleaded with the Spanish Football Federation to reschedule the game but were denied.
Left with no option to field a full team, they refused to play the second leg in protest, staying on the sidelines without ever stepping onto the pitch.
As a result, Atletico Madrid were awarded a 3-0 win by forfeit, securing their spot in the final.
