Luis Suarez scored and got sent off, as defending champions Barcelona reached a fourth successive Copa del Rey final after drawing 1-1 with Atletico Madrid in a pulsating semifinal second leg at the Camp Nou on Tuesday.
Barcelona progressed on a 3-2 aggregate score following their 2-1 first-leg victory at the Vicente Calderon, but will now be without Suarez for the final.
Despite early dominance from Atleti, Barca took the lead with half-time approaching, thanks to the predatory instincts of Suarez.
The Uruguayan tapped in from close range in the 43rd minute after a mesmeric run and shot from captain Lionel Messi to leave the guests with a mountain to climb.
With both sides forced to play with a man short after red cards first to Barca’s Sergi Roberto and then Yannick Ferreira Carrasco for Atleti, substitute Kevin Gameiro blazed a penalty over the bar on the 80th minute following a soft call from referee Gil Manzano.
The France striker made amends moments later by tapping in Antoine Griezmann’s clever cut-back to make for a tense finale at the Camp Nou.
It seemed there will be a final twist to the tale when Suarez was sent off in the 90th minute for an elbow on Atletico midfielder Koke, but Luis Enrique’s side weathered the storm in the five minutes of stoppage time.
Barca will take on either Alaves or Celta Vigo in the May’s final for a record extending 29th Copa del Rey title.
Drama…