Copa del Rey Final Barcelona vs Real Madrid: A Clásico to make history and get closer to the treble

FC Barcelona and Real Madrid will play this Saturday at the La Cartuja Stadium in Seville in the final of the Copa del Rey 2024-25. A Clásico that will attract the attention of the entire world, where the team led by Hansi Flick seeks to take a decisive step towards achieving their third treble in history and the first since 2014-15.

In addition to the possibility of obtaining the first of the three major titles of the season, the injection of encouragement and confidence that winning another final against Madrid will be decisive to face a very tough end to the season between La Liga and Champions League. Facing them will be a 'merengue' team that seems destined for a disastrous end to the cycle with Carlo Ancelotti on the bench.

• 📺 Schedules and TV: when and where to watch the match live in Spain, Europe, America, Africa and Asia: SEE

Madrid has gone more than three months without being able to win a match by more than one goal difference, wasted a 7-point advantage at the beginning of the second half of LaLiga and was eliminated from the Champions League in a resounding way by Arsenal (5-1). Even so, the 'blancos' are still a rival to be reckoned with and Barça will face the match knowing they are favorites, but with maximum concentration.

And Flick's team has faced more problems than usual to win their last three La Liga matches against Leganés (0-1), Celta (4-3) and Mallorca (1-0), feeling a logical wear and tear due to the workload this April. In total, there will be 9 matches played by the 'azulgrana' team this month, with a balance so far of 5 wins, 1 draw and 1 defeat in the three competitions at stake.

Analysis of the keys to Barcelona's favoritism in the Copa final

Despite this, Madrid has also had a very complicated April where they have come close to disaster in all competitions. The 'blancos' were about to be eliminated by Real Sociedad in the 'semis' of Copa (4-4) and, in addition to the two defeats against Arsenal in the Champions League, they also left half of La Liga behind after falling at home against Valencia (1-2).

With this, Ancelotti's team has 3 wins, 1 draw and 3 defeats this month, a performance that makes Barça even more favorite to win the Copa. In recent weeks, the 'merengues' have left a very poor image, with a lackluster game that, in addition to showing an evident physical and mental wear and tear, denotes the tactical shortcomings of a team that suffers both in defense and attack.

For Madrid, scoring more than 1 goal per game has been an impossible mission in their last 5 appearances. Barcelona, on the other hand, maintains its usual offensive display, being able to subject teams to an asphyxiating pressure that ends up turning the rival goalkeepers into stars.

The return of Dani Olmo has been fundamental for the 'culés' to gain depth in attack, even more so in the absence of Robert Lewandowski last week. In addition, the spectacular level of Pedri, the opportunism of Raphinha and Lamine Yamal and the timely interventions of Wojciech Szczesny have been key for Barça to continue in the race for the treble.

To the current level of both teams, of course, we must add the two previous precedents in 24-25. Barça has crushed Madrid in La Liga (0-4) and Super Cup (2-5), with a balance of 9 goals in favor and 2 against. A dominance that had not been seen since Pep Guardiola's first season on the 'culé' bench. Hence, the Catalans are clear favorites this Saturday at La Cartuja.

Barcelona's road to the Copa del Rey 24-25 final

In the Copa del Rey 24-25, Barcelona has managed to reach the final undefeated with a balance of 4 wins and 1 draw, scoring 19 goals, for only 5 against. The 'azulgrana' team debuted in the round of 32 against the humble UD Barbastro (0-4) and, in the round of 16, thrashed Betis at Montjuïc (5-1).

The team would add another 'manita' against Valencia at Mestalla (0-5) to reach the 'semis'. There, the rival was Atlético de Madrid, the team that demanded the most from Flick's team this season in Spain. The 'colchoneros' rescued a draw in the first leg at Montjuïc (4-4) in a crazy match that Barça started losing 0-2 in the first 6 minutes.

Pedri and Cubarsí equalized the score with consecutive goals in the 19th and 21st minutes. In the second half, Iñigo and Martínez seemed to settle the match and the tie, but Atleti responded with two more goals from Llorente and Sorloth to save the draw in added time.

The return leg at the Metropolitano (0-1) did not have as many goals, but Barça took a deserved victory thanks to a goal from Ferran Torres after a great first half by 'azulgrana'.

At the moment, the 'Shark' is the team's top scorer with 5 goals, followed by the great absentee from the final, Lewandowski (3). Lamine Yamal, meanwhile, has a couple of goals in 4 matches.

The 'Shark' bites again: Ferran Torres puts Barça in the final

1. 🟢Second leg of the semi-final: Atlético 0-1 Barça. 'Culé' goal: Ferran Torres.
2. 🟡First leg of the semi-final: Barça 4-4 Atlético. 'Culé' goals: Pedri, Pau Cubarsí, Iñigo Martínez and Robert Lewandowski.
3. 🟢Quarter-finals: Valencia 0-5 Barça. 'Culé' goals: Ferran Torres (hat-trick), Fermín López and Lamine Yamal.
4. 🟢Round of 16: Barça 5-1 Betis. 'Culé' goals: Gavi, Koundé, Raphinha, Ferran Torres and Lamine Yamal.
5. 🟢Round of 32: Barbastro 0-4 Barça. 'Culé' goals: Eric García, Robert Lewandowski (double) and Pablo Torre.

Real Madrid's road to the Copa del Rey 24-25 final

Real Madrid also arrived at La Cartuja after winning 4 matches and drawing 1, although they had to play a couple of extra times to qualify. The 'blancos' debuted with a 'manita' against the humble Deportiva Minera (0-5) and, in the round of 16, struggled to eliminate Celta de Vigo (5-2) in a match that was decided in extra time.

The shameful refereeing of César Soto Grado tipped the balance in favor of the locals at the Santiago Bernabéu against the Galicians. In the quarter-finals, Ancelotti's team suffered again to eliminate Leganés (2-3) at the last minute with a goal from the youth player Gonzalo García.

In the 'semis', the 'merengues' seemed to be heading for a quiet qualification against Real Sociedad after winning the first leg in San Sebastián (0-1). However, the return leg in Madrid was terrible for the 'blancos', against a 'txuri urdin' team that managed to go 1-3 up in the 80th minute.

Jude Bellinghan and Tchouaméni calmed the cauldron in Chamartín, but Mikel Oyarzabal forced extra time with his second goal of the night. In extra time, Rüdiger avoided the penalty shootout with a header in the 115th minute. In the end, the draw (4-4) was enough for the 'blancos' to qualify.

At the moment, Endrick is Madrid's top scorer in the Copa, with 5 goals, followed by Fede Valverde, Arda Güler and Luka Modric, all three with a couple of goals.

Endrick celebrating his goal against Celta in the round of 16

1. Second leg of the semi-final: Real Madrid 4-4 Real Sociedad. 'Merengue' goals: Endrick, Jude Bellingham, Aurélien Tchouaméni and Antonio Rüdiger.
2. First leg of the semi-final: Real Sociedad 0-1 Real Madrid. 'Merengue' goal: Endrick.
3. Quarter-finals: Leganés 2-3 Real Madrid. 'Merengue' goals: Endrick, Luka Modric and Gonzalo García.
4. Round of 16: Real Madrid 5-2 Celta. 'Merengue' goals: Vinicius Jr., Kylian Mbappé, Endrick (double) and Fede Valverde.
5. Round of 32: Deportiva Minera 0-5 Real Madrid. 'Merengue' goals: Fede Valverde, Eduardo Camavinga, Arda Güler (double) and Luka Modric.

Barça, going for their 32nd title and revenge in Copa finals against Madrid

For Barça, the final at La Cartuja is a new opportunity to extend their lead in the tournament's honors list. The 'culés' are the top winners of the tournament with 31 titles and have dominated the competition this century with a total of 11 finals and 7 titles in the last 17 years.

The 'azulgrana' team, however, is looking for its first conquest in four years. The last time the team lifted the trophy dedicated to His Majesty was in 2021, also at La Cartuja against Athletic (0-4). Antoine Griezmann, Frenkie de Jong and Leo Messi (double) scored the goals in what was La Pulga's last consecration with the Barcelona shirt.

Madrid, on the other hand, won the final for the last time in 2023 against Osasuna (2-0), also at La Cartuja. Previously, in 2011 and 2014, the 'merengues' beat Barça in the Copa final, 1-0 and 2-1, respectively. Hence, Saturday also represents an opportunity for revenge for the 'culés' in the tournament.

Until before 2025, 7 Clásicos had been played in Copa finals, with 4 victories for Madrid and 3 for Barcelona. The last time the Catalans celebrated against their lifelong rival in Copa was in 1989-90, 2-0 in Valencia. Before that, the 'azulgrana' team had won the finals of 1968 (1-0) and 1983 (2-1).

FC Barcelona - Real Madrid in the Copa final: eighth Clásico and outstanding accounts

• 📋 Squad list: the list of Barcelona players called up for the match: SEE

Hansi Flick has a clear line-up to defeat Real Madrid

Looking ahead to the final, Hansi Flick will not be able to count on Alejandro Balde and Robert Lewandowski, who are expected to reappear in the 'semis' of the Champions League against Inter Milan. The full-back and the striker join Marc Bernal and Marc Casadó as casualties, due to injury, in an 'azulgrana' team that will recover Marc-André ter Stegen this Saturday.

The German will accompany the team from the bench, as Szczesny will remain in goal after playing 4 matches without defeat in the tournament, with 3 clean sheets. The defense will be formed by the starting pair of center-backs in 24-25, Iñigo and Cubarsí, while Koundé and Gerard Martín will be on the flanks.

In the center of the field, De Jong and Pedri will once again be in charge of leading the team, while Dani Olmo will accompany the offensive trident: Raphinha, Lamine Yamal and Ferran Torres. Ronald Araujo, Gavi, Eric García and Fermín López, four key pieces for Flick's scheme, will wait for their opportunity on the bench.

Pau Víctor, Héctor Fort and Ansu Fati also have options to play a few minutes, as well as Pablo Torre, as long as the score and the context of the match allow it.

• ℹ️ Lineups: the possible starting XI of FC Barcelona and Real Madrid: SEE

Real Madrid will improvise again with their defense against Barça

In the case of Real Madrid, Dani Carvajal, Éder Militao and Eduardo Camavinga will be out due to injury. David Alaba is also doubtful for the final, as he left with discomfort on Wednesday against Getafe.

Therefore, Ancelotti will have no choice but to entrust himself to the saves of Courtois, with an improvised defense where Valverde and Fran García will be the full-backs. Asencio and Rüdiger will return to the center of the defense, while Ceballos and Tchouaméni will have the difficult mission of trying to nullify the 'azulgrana' midfield.

Further forward will be Bellingham, with Vinicius and Rodrygo as wingers/wing-backs and Mbappé as the area reference. The Frenchman arrives just in time for the final, after an ankle injury that prevented him from playing against Athletic and Getafe.

On the bench, 'Carletto's' alternatives will once again be Lucas Vázquez, Alaba, Modric, Brahim and Endrick, as well as an Arda Güler who comes from scoring against Getafe. Will Barça be able to crush Madrid again and take a definitive step towards the treble?

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