The battle of the capital cities ended all square, with the underdogs coming out on top in both matches. The favourites to qualify for the final are now Atlético Madrid and Espanyol after the former thrashed Barcelona and the latter drew away at Real Madrid. There is bound to be controversy for the two second leg games in Barcelona in two weeks time, with a full programme of international matches being played at the same time. Rivaldo and Roberto Carlos may be needed for Brazil's world cup qualifier, with Espanyol's Cavallero and Pochettino being called up by Argentina. Barcelona could be without at least nine first team players, with eight of their Dutchmen being included in Holland's squad for their friendly on the same day, together with Hasselbaink of Atlético. The winners will then be without their youngsters for the final. The date set for that, 27th May, coincides with the start of the under 21 final phase of the European championships in Slovakia, so Casillas, Capdevila, Gabri, Xavi, Tamudo etc. etc. will all be out. All in all another major planning disaster, with the cup competition as usual being fitted in after the other programmes have been set. The final will be played in Valencia if one team from each city qualifies, otherwise it will be played in Atlético's Vicente Calderón or Barca's Camp Nou if both teams from Madrid or Barcelona get through.

Reports are as follows:

Atlético Madrid 3 - Barcelona 0

Atlético: Toni; Gaspar, Santi, Gamarra, Capdevila; Aguilera (Roberto 70'), Hugo Leal (Kiko 85'), Baraja; Paunovic; Luque, Hasselbaink (Mena 80'). 4-3-1-2.
Barcelona: Hesp; Frank De Boer, Abelardo; Puyol, Xavi (Litmanen 60'), Bogarde; Gabri (Reiziger 83'), Cocu (Dani 70'); Figo, Kluivert, Rivaldo. 2-3-2-3.

Goals:
1-0. 31. Hasselbaink. Turned in penalty area and fired strong shot past Hesp.
2-0. 47. Baraja. From close range after charge down the right by Aguilera
3-0. 52. Hugo Leal. Headed in long cross from Luque on left.

The return of Jesus Gil to the directors box of Atlético Madrid transformed the side, and they thrashed Barcelona in this first leg match. Gil and his family returned to take over the day to day management after the judge ended the legal administration, replacing the administrator with a legal interventor (see match report of league match above for more details). Manager Radomir Antic made six changes to the side, bringing in Toni in goal and leaving out his midfield quartet from the last league match of Njegus, Bjebl, Solari and Valerón. He also rested Kiko up front, with young B team top scorer José Juan Luque making his debut in the first team. Van Gaal surprisingly decided to keep faith with his starting line up which lost 3-0 to Mallorca last weekend. The difference between the teams was that Atlético took their chances whereas Barcelona didn't. Rivaldo was the most dangerous of the Barça forwards, shooting just wide on several occasions and hitting the crossbar in injury time. Referee Carmona Méndez also disallowed a goal by Cocu on the quarter hour mark. However this was always going to be Atleti's night, with a euphoric crowd chanting Gil's catch phrase '..y tal y tal y tal..' over and over again. Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink once again gave his side the lead with the house special, a powerful shot which Hesp could do nothing about, and Baraja added the second after Aguilera, playing in a midfield role, had taken the defence apart with a run down the right wing. Youngster Luque took his opportunity well, and after making the third goal for Hugo Leal (his first for the club) with a precision cross from the left, he went close twice himself with shots just off target later in the half. The 35,000 crowd went home believing that the miracle had begun. Barça went home with their tails between their legs, and need to restore their confidence having lost their last three matches, letting in nine goals and scoring only one.

Real Madrid 0 - Espanyol 0

Real Madrid: Casillas; Geremi, Iván Campo, Karembeu, Dorado; McManaman (Baljic' 70'), Redondo, Iván Helguera, Savio; Raúl, Morientes (Anelka 60'). 4-4-2.
Espanyol: Cavallero; Cristóbal, Nando, Pochettino, Roger; Velamazán, Galca, Sergio (Navas 80'), Arteaga; Martín Posse; Tamudo (Serrano 75'). 4-4-1-1.

Goals: None.

A tired Real Madrid could only draw in their own stadium against an Espanyol side who see this competition as their passport into Europe this year. The importance both managers have given to this match could be seen in the starting line ups, with Espanyol playing with their strongest side, and Madrid resting key players, especially in defence. Paco Flores had rested his two first choice forwards Posse and Tamudo at the weekend, and they came back for Navas and Serrano, with Argentinian international Pochettino returning for Soldevilla in the heart of the defence. With Guti and full backs Salgado and Roberto Carlos not fully fit, Geremi and Dorado came in to the Madrid side, with Iván Helguera, playing against his old employers, moving in to midfield to make room for Karembeu at the back (although the two were interchangeable throughout the match). With the match kicking off at the unusual late time of 21.45, only 20,000 fans turned up, one of the worst gates of the season. Espanyol left their calling card in the first minute, when they were unlucky not to get a penalty after Geremi pulled back Arteaga. Espanyol had the best chances in the game, but their shots were either off target or Casillas and his defence were in the way. In the second half Del Bosque brought on Anelka, and the repentant French striker was booed and whistled by much of his own crowd every time he touched the ball, even when he brought a good save out of Cavallero with a long shot. Baljic' (who has added a "j" and one of those little accents to his name recently) came on for a tired McManaman, and he almost snatched the tie with a long free kick in the last minute. The match will be decided in a fortnight's time in the Montjuic stadium, and Real Madrid need at least a score draw to go through.