Atletico Madrid tore Barcelona apart with four first-half goals to secure a 4-0 victory on Thursday in the first leg of their Copa del Rey semi-final, leaving the holders staring at a near impossible task in the return match, Reuters reported. 

Diego Simeone's side needed only 45 minutes at home to seize control of the tie, capitalising on a calamitous early error before carving Hansi Flick's team open at will to move to the brink of April's final in Seville.

Atletico took the lead in the sixth minute in extraordinary fashion. Barcelona defender Eric Garcia rolled a routine pass back, but goalkeeper Joan Garcia, already scanning upfield, allowed the ball to slip under his boot and towards goal. His desperate dive came too late as it had crossed the line, according to Reuters.