Barcelona is experiencing a state of self-criticism mixed with hope after losing the first leg of the cup semi-final at the Metropolitano Stadium, where the team was clearly outperformed by Atletico Madrid in the first half. Controversial refereeing decisions by referee Martinez Munuera hindered attempts to reduce the deficit and start a comeback, according to the Spanish newspaper "Mundo Deportivo."

After the match, both Eric Garcia and Frenkie de Jong expressed their objections to the refereeing, while Dani Olmo chose to send a message via his Instagram account, writing: "We were not at the level of a knockout match."

The player sought to motivate the fans before the return match, stating: "At our home, at Camp Nou, we will fight with all of you, dear culers, to turn the result around; we will not give up." There has been a growing belief in the locker room that they can overcome the 4-0 loss, despite the difficulty of the task.

According to the newspaper, coach Hans Flick gave a stern reprimand to the players after returning from Madrid due to their first-half performance, emphasizing that the team's display was not befitting of a club competing for titles and on the brink of a final. Reports indicated that the message had an impact within the team.

Hope remains alive within Barcelona ahead of the return match, amid calls to create an enthusiastic atmosphere at Camp Nou to support the team in their attempt to overturn the result.