The final between FC Barcelona and Real Madrid will be the eighth occasion in which a Clásico will define the champion of the Copa del Rey. Furthermore, this will also be the eighth opportunity in the last 35 years where the trophy dedicated to His Majesty is decided on a Saturday, with the Azulgrana team aspiring to the title.

Between 1990 and 2025, Barça has played 15 finals, 11 of them in the last 17 years, from 2009 onwards. The record is 10 titles and 5 runner-up finishes, 7 of those trophies obtained in the 21st century.

Of those 15 finals, 8 have been played on a Saturday, with a largely positive record for the Culés. The last precedent, in 2020-21, ended in a rout for the Catalan team.

Do you remember this rout? Barça's magical Saturdays in the Cup final

Ronald Koeman's Barça crushed Athletic Club on April 17, 2021 (4-0). Antoine Griezmann, Frenkie de Jong, and Leo Messi (brace) scored the Culé goals, all of them in the second half. The 'Lions', due to the pandemic, lost two finals in a span of just two weeks, the first against Real Sociedad (1-0), corresponding to 19-20.

A couple of years earlier, Barcelona fell to Valencia on May 29, 2019 (2-1). Ernesto Valverde's team was looking for their fifth trophy in a row, but they fell at the Benito Villamarín with goals from Kevin Gameiro and Rodrigo. Messi scored for the Catalans in the second half.

Since 2017, the RFEF has scheduled the Cup final on Saturdays. That year, Barça defeated Alavés (3-1) with goals from Leo Messi, Neymar, and Paco Alcácer. A year later, on April 21, 2018, the Culés crushed Sevilla (5-0) thanks to goals from Luis Suárez (brace), Messi, Andrés Iniesta, and Philippe Coutinho.

The last Cup finals for Barça played on a Saturday

A decade ago, on May 30, 2015, Barcelona won the Copa del Rey again against Athletic (3-1). The party was total at Camp Nou thanks to goals from Xavi Hernández, Jérémy Mathieu, and Pedro Rodriguez. A week later, Luis Enrique's team won the Champions League against Juventus and their third treble.

In the 90s, the Culés won two Cup finals on a Saturday. On June 28, 1997, the team then managed by Bobby Robson defeated Betis (3-2) with goals from Luis Figo (brace) and Juan Antonio Pizzi.

And, in the 1989-90 season, came the precedent that may be most similar to the current season. On April 5, 1990, the Culés defeated Real Madrid (2-0) at the Santiago Bernabéu itself. Guillermo Amor and Julio Salinas scored the goals of a triumph that many consider saved Johan Cruyff's job as Azulgrana coach and began the cycle of the legendary 'Dream Team' (1990-1994).

  1. 1989-90: Barça 2-0 Real Madrid. April 5, 1990. Santiago Bernabéu, Madrid.
  2. 1996-97: Barça 3-2 Betis. June 28, 1997. Mestalla, Valencia.
  3. 2014-15: Barça 3-1 Athletic. May 30, 2015. Camp Nou, Barcelona.
  4. 2016-17: Barça 3-1 Alavés. May 27, 2017. Vicente Calderón, Madrid.
  5. 2017:18: Barça 5-0 Sevilla. April 21, 2018. Metropolitano, Madrid.
  6. 2018:19: Valencia 2-1 Barça. May 29, 2019. Benito Villamarín, Seville.
  7. 2020-21: Barça 4-0 Athletic Club. April 17, 2021. La Cartuja, Seville.