The world of Spanish football woke up this morning with news that seems straight out of a nightmare for Atlético de Madrid and an unexpected dream for FC Barcelona. Just a few hours after the historic 4-0 win that the Colchonero team imposed on Barça in the first leg of the Copa del Rey semifinals, at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano Stadium, the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) has issued an explosive statement: two Atlético de Madrid players have tested positive in the anti-doping controls carried out routinely after the match.

The result of the match, which seemed to decide the tie in favor of the red and whites, could be declared void, opening the door to one of the biggest refereeing and sporting controversies in recent years.

The match on February 12, 2026 was an exhibition of power by Diego Simeone’s Atlético. In a devastating first half, the locals destroyed an unrecognizable Barcelona: own goal from Eric García in the 6th minute after a blunder by Joan García, goal from Antoine Griezmann in the 13th, Ademola Lookman in the 32nd and, finally, Julián Álvarez breaking his scoring drought with a spectacular goal in the 46th. The 4-0 lead at half-time left Barça on the brink of the abyss, with a comeback that seemed impossible at the Camp Nou.

The second half was a mere formality, with Atlético controlling and Barcelona unable to react. Hansi Flick, visibly frustrated, criticized his players’ lack of intensity and concentration, while Simeone celebrated a perfect night for his team.

But what no one expected happened in the hours that followed. According to the standard protocol of the Spanish Agency for Health Protection in Sports (AEPSAD) and the RFEF, post-match anti-doping controls were carried out on several players from both teams. Two Atlético players – whose identities have not yet been officially revealed, although speculation on networks and media points to key pieces of the starting eleven – returned adverse results for prohibited substances.

The RFEF statement, issued in the early hours of February 13, is blunt: “Following the adverse analytical findings in post-match samples of two Atlético de Madrid footballers, the corresponding disciplinary procedure begins immediately. In application of national and international anti-doping regulations (World Anti-Doping Code and RFEF Regulations), it is being evaluated whether these infractions affect the integrity of the match played. A decision on the possible annulment of the result will be adopted in the coming days. after the corresponding analysis.”

The implications are brutal. If the RFEF decides to annul the 4-0 score – something exceptional but contemplated in cases where it is demonstrated that the use of prohibited substances could have influenced collective or individual performance – the match could be declared void, granting Barcelona a technical victory (possibly 3-0 by forfeit) or, in the most extreme scenario, forcing the match to be repeated. This would radically change the panorama of the tie: Barça, which seemed condemned to a humiliating elimination, would regain life in the Copa del Rey and maintain its chances of defending its title.

For Atlético, they would lose not only the result but also the overwhelming lead heading into the final in La Cartuja.

The mattress club reacted quickly. In an official statement issued early in the morning, Atlético de Madrid assured: “The club collaborates fully with the competent authorities and the AEPSAD in the open investigation. We maintain the presumption of innocence of our players and we trust that the process will clarify the facts in a transparent and fair manner. Atlético has always defended the values ​​of fair play and supports the fight against doping in sport.”

Sources close to the club indicate that the positives could be related to contaminated supplements or errors in the traceability of permitted medications, a recurring argument in similar cases in modern football.

On the Blaugrana side, the news has fallen like a balm after the sporting debacle. Joan Laporta, who had already filed a formal complaint about the actions of referee Juan Martínez Munuera (including the annulment of a goal by Pau Cubarsí due to a failure in the semi-automatic VAR), saw this development as a golden opportunity. Barça sources confirmed that the club is preparing an extension of its complaint to Competition and the RFEF, requesting that this new element be taken into account in the global review of the match. “If there is doping, the result cannot count.

It is a question of sporting justice,” they commented from the management environment.

The culé fans, who went from indignation at the refereeing and the win to contained euphoria, flooded the networks with messages of hope: “Karma exists”, “Now a comeback is possible”, “Let them cancel it and let it be repeated at the Camp Nou”. In the Metropolitano, the red-and-white fans express disbelief and anger: “Now this? After humiliating them, they are taking the game away from us,” it was read in several forums.

Doping cases that affect the results of entire matches are extremely rare in Spanish football. The closest precedent dates back to individual sanctions (such as the recent case of Yeray Álvarez at Athletic Club for a masking substance), but a high-level match has never been annulled for this reason. The RFEF must determine whether the detected substances (not yet specified: stimulants, anabolics, masking?) could have had a direct impact on performance during the 90 minutes.

Experts consulted by media such as AS and Marca agree that the decision will be political and legal: canceling it would be an earthquake, but ignoring it could open accusations of cover-up.

Meanwhile, Spanish football holds its breath. The second leg of the semi-final, scheduled for March 3 at the Camp Nou, is on hold. Will it be played with the score 4-0? Will the first leg be repeated? Or will Barça receive an unexpected gift? The answer will come soon, but one thing is certain: the night of February 12, 2026, which seemed to remember athletic greatness, could go down in history for very different reasons.

Doping has once again stained the beautiful sport. And this time, it could change the fate of an entire Copa del Rey.