Flick adopts 'anything is possible' mentality in bid to erase 4-0 Copa del Rey loss by Atletico

MADRID (AP) — Barcelona coach Hansi Flick is adopting the “anything is possible” mentality ahead of the second leg of the Copa del Rey semifinal against Atletico Madrid.

Barcelona hosts Atletico on Tuesday needing to reverse a 4-0 loss from the first leg in Madrid last month.

“We are four goals behind and we have to make the impossible possible," Flick said on Monday. "That is the objective. It’s not easy. However, we will not give up.

"It is important to keep a clean sheet, but we must believe in our strength and that we can achieve it ... you must always believe. In each half we need to score two goals.”

Barcelona was trounced by Atletico in the opening half of the first match and could have conceded even more than the four goals it allowed before halftime.

It was able to even the game a bit after the break but couldn't find a way to score. It loudly complained over a Pau Cubarsí goal early in the second half that was disallowed. The Spanish soccer federation later said the automatic technology to detect offsides didn’t work properly.

“We have to be smart,” Flick said. "We must press them, win the duels and make things difficult for them. We cannot lose possession as they are very dangerous in transitions. We have to play as one.”

Flick will be without experienced forward Robert Lewandowski because of injury. Frenkie de Jong and Gavi also remain sidelined while defender Eric García won't play because he was sent off in the first leg.

“We will have to manage Lewy’s absence," Flick said. "We haven’t had much luck. Losing a player like him, and the others who cannot be there, is a problem but the team handles it well."

Barcelona is coming off a 4-1 win over Villarreal in the Spanish league, when Lamine Yamal scored a hat trick.

The Catalan club is the defending Copa champion. It won the trophy for a record 32nd time by beating Real Madrid in last year’s final.

Atletico, which has won three in a row in all competitions, is trying to return to the Copa final for the first time since it lifted the trophy in 2012-13 for the 10th time.

“We are focused on the match ahead, which will be against a very good, offensive opponent that has great individual players and a collective game that makes them one of the most competitive teams in La Liga and in Europe,” Atletico coach Diego Simeone said.

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Barcelona's Robert Lewandowski (9) is congratulated after scoring his side's 4th goal during the Spanish La Liga soccer match between Barcelona and Villareal in Barcelona, Spain, Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026. (AP Photo/Joan Monfort)

Atletico Madrid's head coach Diego Simeone celebrates after the Champions League play-off second leg soccer match between Atletico Madrid and Club Brugge, in Madrid, Spain, Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

Atletico Madrid's head coach Diego Simeone celebrates after the Champions League play-off second leg soccer match between Atletico Madrid and Club Brugge, in Madrid, Spain, Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

Barcelona's head coach Hansi Flick, center, reacts during the Spanish La Liga soccer match between Barcelona and Villareal in Barcelona, Spain, Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026. (AP Photo/Joan Monfort)

PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — Maine Democrat Graham Platner has picked up another high-profile endorsement in his bid to flip a key Senate seat blue, marking another sign of the oyster farmer and combat veteran's political resiliency even as he continues to face controversy throughout his campaign.

Arizona Democrat Ruben Gallego announced Monday that he was backing Platner, saying that the first-time candidate “reflects the grit and independence that defines Maine.”

“Graham Platner is the kind of fighter Maine hasn’t seen in a long time, someone who tells you exactly what he thinks, doesn’t owe anything to the special interests, and wakes up every day thinking about working families,” said Gallego, who won a Senate seat in Arizona in 2024 by more than 2 points while Trump carried the state by nearly 6 points.

Platner has previously been endorsed by Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, an independent who caucuses with Democrats, and New Mexico Sen. Martin Heinrich, a Democrat.

However, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer has endorsed Platner's main opponent, Maine Gov. Janet Mills.

Both Platner, 41, and Mills, 78, are hoping to unseat Republican Sen. Susan Collins, 73, a five-term incumbent who announced last month that she was running for another term. A victory in Maine is crucial for Democrats’ efforts to take back control of the Senate. The Democratic Party needs to net four seats to retake the Senate majority, and they are aiming to do that in Maine, North Carolina, Alaska and Ohio.

Platner has gained traction with his anti-establishment image and economic equality message. He's pressed forward despite controversies over old social media posts and a tattoo resembling a Nazi symbol, which he recently had covered up.

Gallego is among the Democrats named as possible 2028 presidential contenders. Last fall, he stumped in New Jersey, Virginia and Florida, where he campaigned for Democrats who went on to win their elections.

“I have an immense amount of respect for him and I’m looking forward to joining him as a fellow Marine and combat infantryman in the U.S. Senate,” Platner said in a statement.

Kruesi reported from Providence, Rhode Island.

FILE - Sen. Ruben Gallego D-Ariz., speaks during the "People's State of the Union" rally outside of the U.S. Capitol, Feb. 24, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana, file)

FILE - Democratic Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner speaks at a town hall in Ogunquit, Maine, Oct. 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Caleb Jones, file)