Simeone leads Atlético to Copa del Rey semifinals again!

In the Copa del Rey quarterfinals, Atlético Madrid hosted Getafe, and 54-year-old Diego Simeone made a bold tactical decision by starting five Argentine players. 

The move paid off spectacularly as Atlético secured a dominant 5-0 victory, setting a historic milestone not seen in nearly 60 years.

Atletico Madrid 5-0 Getafe

Atlético have been in outstanding form this season. In La Liga, they trail Real Madrid by just one point, firmly in the title race. 

In the Champions League, they have advanced to the Round of 16, and now in the Copa del Rey, they faced a relatively weaker opponent in Getafe.

Simeone, known for his fearless approach, showed unwavering trust in his compatriots by fielding five Argentine players in the starting lineup.

Giuliano Simeone

Among them, one player stood out for his unique connection to the coach—Giuliano Simeone, the son of Diego Simeone.

Diego Simeone has three sons, and Giuliano is the youngest. This season, he has made 27 appearances for Atlético, 19 of them as a starter.

Giuliano’s father is his team head coach,Diego Simeone

While some may question whether he is benefiting from his father’s favoritism, Giuliano has silenced critics with his performances on the pitch, proving he deserves his place in the team.

In this match, Giuliano made an immediate impact, scoring with a header in the 7th minute to give Atlético a 1-0 lead.

Julián Simeone broke the deadlock with a header!

In the 16th minute, Álvarez provided an assist, and Giuliano finished with a precise strike, completing his brace in just nine minutes.

A clinical finish! Giuliano Simeone scores a brace!

At the 60-minute mark, Simeone substituted his son, giving him a well-earned rest.

Over the past three matches, Giuliano has been in excellent form, scoring three goals and providing two assists, directly contributing to five goals and cementing himself as a key attacking force for Atlético.

Julián Simeone has become one of Atletico Madrid’s key attacking threats

Notably, his brace in the Copa del Rey was an achievement even his father had never managed as a player.

Additionally, this match marked the first time since 1965 that Atlético had scored five goals at home in the Copa del Rey quarterfinals or later. 

Under Simeone’s leadership, the club has now reached the semifinals of a cup competition 10 times.

The mastermind, Diego Simeone

Looking ahead, Atlético will face Real Madrid in a crucial La Liga showdown this weekend. 

A victory would see them reclaim the top spot in the league standings.