The Copa del Rey final is always a significant occasion, but its importance is amplified when it features an El Clasico clash between Barcelona and Real Madrid. This encounter marks the third time these rivals have faced each other this season, and the stakes are incredibly high. Barcelona is chasing a potential treble, while Real Madrid aims to salvage their season and push for a domestic double.
While Los Blancos currently trail Barcelona by four points in the league standings, a victory in a cup final could be enough to shift the momentum in their favor. To achieve this, Real Madrid will need to overcome Barcelona`s formidable attack. Even without Robert Lewandowski, Barcelona boasts talented wingers like Lamine Yamal and Raphinha. Real Madrid`s defense has not been consistently strong this season, so manager Carlo Ancelotti will likely need to employ a tactical masterclass.
Here is information on key storylines, how to watch the match, and other details.
Match Details and Odds
- Date: Saturday, April 26 | Time: 4 p.m. ET
- Location: Estadio de La Cartuja — Seville, Spain
- Live stream: ESPN+
- Odds: Barcelona +105; Draw +280; Real Madrid +200
Recent Meeting
This upcoming final is actually their second cup final meeting of the season, following the Spanish Super Cup final in January. That match saw a dominant performance from Barcelona, who were leading 4-1 at halftime en route to a 5-2 victory. Yamal, Lewandowski, and Raphinha all contributed to the scoring in that game, demonstrating the potency of Barcelona`s offense. Although Rodrygo and Kylian Mbappe scored for Real Madrid, it wasn`t enough to prevent a heavy defeat.
Potential Refereeing Controversy?
While Real Madrid has stated they will not threaten to withdraw from the Copa del Rey final, the Spanish football federation declined their request for different officials for the match. During a press conference prior to the final, referee Pablo Gonzalez Fuertes spoke about the threats and abuse he has received, including from Real Madrid`s own television channel, `Real Madrid TV`.
Real Madrid argued that these comments indicated Gonzalez Fuertes could not be unbiased, but with the RFEF rejecting their request, they must proceed with the originally assigned officiating crew.
Predicted Lineups
Barcelona: Wojciech Szczesny, Jules Kounde, Ronald Araujo, Pau Cubarsi, Inigo Martinez, Pedri, Gavi, Lamine Yamal, Dani Olmo, Raphinha, Ferran Torres
Real Madrid: Thibaut Courtois, Francisco Garcia, Antonio Rudiger, Raul Asencio, Lucas Vazquez, Jude Bellingham, Federico Valverde, Luka Modric, Rodrygo, Vinicius Junior, Kylian Mbappe
Player to Watch
Vinicius Junior, Real Madrid: It was a close call between Vinicius Jr and Mbappe for this spot, but the Brazilian gets the slight edge due to how Barcelona is likely to defend Mbappe. Barcelona`s high defensive line might catch Mbappe offside, but Vini Jr will have excellent opportunities to create chances through dribbling, exploiting their injury-affected defense. The Brazilian is expected to play a crucial role on the wing, receiving the ball frequently and running directly at defenders. If he doesn`t perform at his best in this match, Real Madrid`s hopes could be significantly diminished.
Storyline to Watch
The Treble Chase Continues: With Inter Milan eliminated from the Coppa Italia, Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain are the only two teams in Europe still in contention to win their league, domestic cup, and the Champions League. Without the goal threat of Lewandowski, other players in Barcelona`s attack will need to step up to compensate for his absence. This is certainly possible given that Barcelona has a Ballon d`Or candidate in Raphinha and arguably the world`s best young player in Lamine Yamal. However, they will still need to handle the pressure of this high-stakes match. Barcelona might be seen as favorites, but rivalry games, especially cup finals with silverware on the line, often defy expectations and past form.
Prediction
This match is unlikely to mirror the lopsided Spanish Super Cup final, but Barcelona is still favored to win. Their attack generates too many problems for Real Madrid`s defense to comfortably handle. Raphinha is expected to be a key player in securing the victory for Barcelona, with Pedri controlling the midfield tempo behind him. While Real Madrid`s defense will face a challenging task, the match is predicted to be closer than the Super Cup, though still resulting in a clear Barcelona win. Pick: Barcelona 2, Real Madrid 1
