Barcelona’s young star Lamine Yamal found himself on the wrong end of Diego Simeone’s taunting during a Copa del Rey nightmare against Atletico Madrid. Hansi Flick’s team, sitting at the top of La Liga, went into halftime already four goals behind in the first leg, and Simeone made sure Yamal was well aware of the score.

Right from the start, Atletico came out flying. Eric Garcia accidentally put the ball into his own net within seven minutes. Antoine Griezmann, who used to play for Barcelona, made it 2-0 just a few minutes later.

Then, Ademola Lookman, who just joined Atletico in January, made it three just after the half-hour mark. Simeone, never one to hide his emotions, dashed down the touchline to celebrate. As he headed back to his spot, Yamal happened to walk by, and Simeone flashed three fingers at him, grinning from ear to ear.

Things only got worse for Barcelona before the break. Julian Alvarez, who’s been in the headlines lately with transfer rumours, scored a fourth in stoppage time. With that kind of lead, Atletico has one foot in the next round heading into the return leg at Camp Nou on March 4.

So, how do you stop a kid like Yamal? Simeone seems to think a little psychological warfare goes a long way. Girona’s coach, Michel, agrees. Ahead of their own clash with Barcelona, Michel talked about how much of a threat Yamal is, especially on the right side. According to him, Yamal isn’t just a flashy dribbler. He’s got vision and can pick out a pass most teenagers wouldn’t even see. Give him a sliver of space; he’ll find a teammate. Get too close, and he’ll dance right past you.

Michel didn’t want to reveal too much, but he made it pretty clear: sometimes you just have to make life uncomfortable for Yamal. Get under his skin. Make him work for every inch.

Against Atletico, that strategy worked. Barcelona did manage to get the ball in the net once when Pau Cabarsi scrambled it over the line, but after a painfully long eight-minute VAR check, the goal was chalked off thanks to a glitch in the offside technology. It just wasn’t their night.

Simeone, buzzing after the win, told reporters, “Our fans needed a night like this. We know who we’re up against, and there’s still a long way to go before the next game. But tonight, this was something special for our people. They deserved it.”

After an Eric Garcia own goal sent Diego Simeone's side ahead early on, Antoine Griezmann, Ademola Lookman and Julian Alvarez struck to give Atletico a landslide lead by half-time.

Barca defender Garcia was sent off in the final stages, with Atletico maintaining their significant advantage over the record 32-time winners, which they will take into the second leg at Camp Nou on March 3.

Both sides missed good chances in the second half, with Barca's Pau Cubarsi having a goal disallowed before Garcia was sent off in the final stages.

Atletico were able to preserve their significant advantage on the record as 32-time winners, which they will take into the second leg at Camp Nou on March 3.

Well off the pace in La Liga and not showing the quality of a side likely to go deep in the Champions League, the Copa del Rey represents Atletico's best chance of silverware this season.

With that motivation in mind, the Rojiblancos conjured the best football of their season to completely dismantle the Spanish champions in the first half.

The hosts took the lead after seven minutes when Garcia's pass, on the uneven Metropolitano stadium pitch, bobbled towards Joan Garcia and then under the goalkeeper's foot.

The Barca stopper ran back towards his goal to try and save it, but the ball crossed the line first, with Lookman ramming it back into the net for good measure, although it was recorded as an Eric Garcia own goal.

Former Barca striker Griezmann slid home the second as Atletico breached the Catalans' high defensive line repeatedly, leaning on the pace of Giuliano Simeone and Lookman.

Fermin Lopez hit the crossbar for Barcelona, but it was one-way traffic, and Atletico nearly got a third when Alvarez's effort was cleared off the line by Jules Kounde.

Eventually, Nigeria international Lookman steered home the third at the end of a fine team move, with overjoyed Atletico coach Simeone racing down the touchline in celebration.

Alvarez drought ends

Having spent much of the season demanding his team take their chances more clinically, all of the Argentine's dreams came true at once.

Alvarez, who had failed to score in his last 11 matches, ended his drought for Atletico's fourth, ramming home from just inside the area.

Atletico goalkeeper Juan Musso saved well from Lopez to keep his clean sheet at the interval.

Barcelona thought they had pulled one back in the second half when Pau Cubarsi netted, but it was controversially disallowed after a long VAR review for offside.

With a few minutes remaining, the league leaders' night got even worse when Eric Garcia was sent off for a foul on Alex Baena as he ran through.

Ferran Torres's poor pass sold his teammate short, and he clumsily felled the Atletico playmaker.

Alexander Sorloth and Torres spurned further chances at each end as the game kept its frantic pace until the end.

On Wednesday, Real Sociedad beat Athletic Bilbao 1-0 in the first leg of the other semi-final clash.