**Barcelona's Woes Continue as Atletico Madrid Cruise to Copa del Rey Victory** The Copa del Rey semi-finals are underway, and Barcelona's struggles in the competition showed no sign of abating as they suffered a humiliating 4-0 defeat at the hands of Atletico Madrid in the first leg. The match, played at the Wanda Metropolitano on Thursday, will be remembered for the outstanding performance of Ademola Lookman, who not only scored his first goal for the club but also provided a crucial assist. The match got off to a disastrous start for Barcelona as a defensive blunder by Eric Garcia handed Atletico the lead. The home team's dominance continued as Antoine Griezmann doubled the score in the 14th minute. The goal was a testament to Atletico's growing prowess under Diego Simeone, who has been working on fine-tuning the team's attacking prowess. Lookman's introduction to the scoring sheet was a masterclass in opportunism. His clinical finish left Barcelona's goalkeeper with little chance of making a save. But what was even more impressive was Lookman's role in the fourth goal, which he set up for Julien Alvarez in added time. The assist showcased the Nigerian's vision and passing range, which has been a welcome addition to Atletico's attacking arsenal. The second leg of the tie is scheduled to take place at the Camp Nou on March 3, and it remains to be seen whether Barcelona can stage a miraculous comeback. Meanwhile, Real Sociedad's narrow 1-0 victory over Athletic Bilbao in the other semi-final has set up an intriguing tie for the second leg. The Copa del Rey remains a highly prized trophy in Spanish football, and Atletico's convincing victory has put them firmly in the driving seat for a spot in the final. As the competition enters its final stages, fans can expect more thrilling encounters and surprises.