Atlético Madrid edged into the Copa del Rey final despite being beaten 3-0 by Barcelona in their semifinal second-leg clash at Camp Nou.
Barça entered the game facing an uphill struggle with Atlético holding a four-goal advantage from their first-leg meeting in February and after a positive opening to the game, Marc Bernal put the hosts ahead.
Raphinha struck from the penalty spot to give Barca a 2-0 lead at the break and Bernal bagged his brace with 18 minutes to play, but Atlético saw out a nervy finale to clinch a 4-3 win on aggregate.
Atlético will now face either Real Sociedad or Athletic Bilbao in the competition’s showpiece on April 18.
Barça started the contest brightly, but were handed a blow when Jules Kounde was forced off with an injury in the 13th minute.
Raphinha then came close moments later with a low strike that whizzed past the near post and Ferran Torres blasted an effort wide as the hosts looked to capitalise on their strong start.
“Maybe it wasn’t our best match, but it was a game of 180 minutes,” Atletico goalkeeper Juan Musso said. “They had everything going their way but we suffered when we had to suffer. We knew it wasn’t going to be easy, but in the end we made it to the final.”
Atlético then had their first real opportunity on goal when Joan Garcia made the save from Antoine Griezmann’s low attempt.
However, Barça took the lead 29 minutes in when Yamal sent a low cross into the six-yard box and an unmarked Bernal guided the ball home with a first-time finish.
Raphinha sent a header past a post before Atlético threatened again when Griezmann rattled the woodwork, but the flag was raised for offside and Ademola Lookman headed wide from Marcos Llorente’s delivery into the area.
Barça were awarded a penalty when Pedri was brought down in the box and they doubled their lead when Raphinha fired home from the spot in the fifth minute of first-half stoppage time.
“We knew it was going to be a tough match, it’s not easy to overcome a 4-0 defeat,” Raphinha said. “But I’m proud of the team. We gave everything we had from the start. We leave disappointed because we wanted to be in the final, and I think we deserved it after the game that we played.”
Barça continued to pile on the pressure as Bernal and Raphinha forced a double save from Musso before the flag went up for offside.
The game took another twist as the hosts moved closer to levelling on aggregate when Bernal volleyed home from Joao Cancelo’s delivery into the box in the 72nd minute.
A late surge saw Gerard Martin blast an effort over the crossbar and in a cagey stoppage-time period, Alexander Sørloth raced down the pitch before blasting well over the crossbar.
Yamal curled a strike around the far post and Atlético held on to book their spot in next month’s final.