The condition of the Metropolitano Stadium pitch raises significant concerns ahead of the Atletico Madrid and Barcelona clash, scheduled for Thursday, February 12, as part of the Spanish King's Cup competition, according to the Spanish newspaper 'Mundo Deportivo'.

The state of the grass is one of the main issues occupying the 22 players participating in the match, especially after statements by Antoine Griezmann and Koke, who confirmed that the pitch does not allow for fast and precise football at the same time. Koke said, 'The pitch is not good, we slide, and it falls apart. A team like Atletico needs a high-level pitch to play, and then requirements are imposed on us.'

Atletico Madrid had replaced the grass at the end of November 2025, after the San Blas Stadium hosted the Miami Dolphins team training before playing an American football league match in the Spanish capital. Despite the moral and financial returns, estimated at several million euros, it required changing the pitch mid-season.

For this purpose, the club contracted with the Dutch company 'Grass Master Solutions', a leader in hybrid grass technology. However, the rain, cold, and snow that Madrid experienced in recent weeks made the surface more fragile than expected, as it started to break apart in some areas.

The pitch is likely to be relatively heavy, given ten consecutive days of rain in Madrid, which may affect the pace of play as the match progresses. The data indicates that Atletico faced difficulties in accelerating play during its recent matches, a factor that may be linked to the state of the grass.

Both Barcelona and Atletico Madrid will have to adapt to these conditions in the anticipated encounter, while the Madrid club continues intensive work in recent days to improve the pitch condition, according to the same source.