sports

Barcelona Bows Out in Copa Semis

Barcelona's Copa del Rey campaign ended with a 4-3 aggregate defeat to Atletico Madrid despite a spirited second-half comeback attempt.

Hansi Flick voiced mixed emotions after the elimination, saying 'We're disappointed, but also proud of what we saw.' The Blaugrana mounted a comeback with three goals in the final 20 minutes but fell short on aggregate.

Flick praised young defender Cubarsi as 'one of the best centre-backs in the world' and challenged his team to maintain this level in upcoming La Liga and Champions League matches. Barcelona now focuses on recovery with injuries to Kounde and Balde adding to their concerns.