Alexander Sorloth scored three minutes into stoppage time to give Atletico Madrid a 4-4 draw at FC Barcelona in a Copa Del Rey semi-final first leg thriller at the Olympic Stadium on Tuesday night.
Atletico raced to a 2-0 lead after only six minutes, Julian Alvarez breaking the deadlock in the opening minute before turning to provider for Antoine Griezmann to double the advantage after six minutes.
Barca were back on level terms midway through the first half, though, with Pedri pulling one back after 19 minutes before Paul Cubarsi headed in a Raphinha corner-kick to equalise two minutes later.
Another Raphinha corner-kick was the catalyst to Barca scoring again, this time through Inigo Martinez as the defender’s header put Hansi Flick’s side in front for the first time with four minutes left in the first half.
Robert Lewandowski looked to have won it for Barcelona after getting on to Lamine Yamal’s ball to make it 4-2 after 74 minutes, but the visitors somehow conjured a comeback to leave the tie hanging on the balance.
Marcos Llorente sparked a frenetic end to the game when he pulled one back for Atletico with eight minutes to go, before Sorloth, just like he did back in December in La Liga, scored deep in stoppage time here again to ensure both teams shared the spoils.
The visitors had beaten Barcelona 2-1 in La Liga when both teams met in La Liga last December in the Olympic Stadium, with Sorloth scoring the winner deep into stoppage time.
Barca will go to the Metropolitano on April 2 for the return leg against Atletico Madrid for a place in the final, though, both teams will meet two weeks prior in La Liga in what could decide the fate of one or the other team in the title race.