Verdict: Barcelona win
Best odds: 11/10
Bookmaker: ZetBet
The latest edition of El Clasico is set for Saturday evening at Estadio de La Cartuja, with silverware at stake as Barcelona and Real Madrid clash in the Copa del Rey final.
Barcelona are aiming to win the tournament for the 32nd time in their history, while Real Madrid seek a 21st title, with added pressure on Los Blancos after their recent Champions League elimination.
Barcelona
Few would have anticipated just how impressive Barcelona have been under Hansi Flick this season, with the German aiming to guide the team to four trophies in his debut campaign—an outstanding potential accomplishment.
Barcelona claimed the Spanish Super Cup earlier this year by beating Real Madrid 5-2 in the final, and they currently lead the La Liga title race, sitting four points ahead of second-placed Real Madrid with five matches left.
The Catalan giants are also in the Champions League semi-finals, preparing for a two-legged tie against Inter Milan, and will have the opportunity to secure a second trophy this season on Saturday, as Spain’s top two clubs meet again.
Barcelona come into the game after a 1-0 La Liga win over Mallorca and remain unbeaten in domestic action since December, underlining the challenge Real Madrid face. However, Los Blancos have won the last two Copa del Rey finals.
Real Madrid beat Barcelona 2-1 in 2014 and 1-0 in 2011, with the Catalans’ last final win over their rivals dating back to 1990, when Guillermo Amor and Julio Salinas scored in a 2-0 victory.
Barcelona are the most decorated team in Copa del Rey history with 31 titles, most recently in 2020-21, and are aiming for a third win over Real Madrid this season, having also won 4-0 at the Bernabeu in La Liga last October.
Team News
The Blaugrana will be without top scorer Robert Lewandowski due to a hamstring injury, with the Polish forward expected to return for next month’s league clash with Real Madrid, meaning Ferran Torres is set to lead the line.
Alejandro Balde is also sidelined with a hamstring problem, so Gerard Martin is likely to start at left-back. Marc Casado and Marc Bernal are out injured as well, though Marc-Andre ter Stegen has returned to the squad after a serious knee injury sustained last September.
Still, Wojciech Szczesny is expected to continue in goal for the final.
Pau Cubarsi should return in central defence, with Ronald Araujo possibly missing out, and Fermin Lopez may be preferred to Dani Olmo in the number 10 role due to the latter’s fitness concerns.
Lamine Yamal and Raphinha are locked in as the wide options for Barcelona, while Frenkie de Jong and Jules Kounde are set to return to the starting lineup after being benched against Mallorca.
Real Madrid
Real Madrid head into this clash following a 1-0 La Liga victory over Getafe, with Arda Guler scoring the lone goal in the first half – a result that has kept the title race alive with five fixtures remaining.
Los Blancos have already secured silverware this season, having lifted the UEFA Super Cup in August, and they will also participate in the upcoming Club World Cup, which kicks off in mid-June under a revamped format.
Their Champions League exit remains a major disappointment, as they were beaten 5-1 on aggregate by Arsenal in the quarterfinals, prompting strong speculation about Carlo Ancelotti’s future. Ancelotti is widely expected to be dismissed this summer, with Bayer Leverkusen boss Xabi Alonso the frontrunner to take over, suggesting a new era could soon begin at the Bernabeu.
While the Copa del Rey was not a top priority for Real Madrid at the start of the campaign, it has now become a crucial target, and there’s a case to be made that most of the pressure this weekend is on the capital club.
Real have prevailed in four of their seven Copa del Rey final meetings with Barcelona, and the most recent cup clash between the sides ended in a 4-0 win for Los Blancos in the 2023 semifinals.
Team News
Eduardo Camavinga has been ruled out of the final after sustaining an adductor injury against Getafe, which is expected to keep him sidelined for the remainder of the season.
Dani Carvajal and Eder Militao remain unavailable due to long-term knee issues, but Ferland Mendy and Kylian Mbappe are both included in the squad for this weekend’s final.
Mbappe suffered an ankle injury during the recent Champions League tie with Arsenal, but he is expected to start, while Mendy is likely to begin on the bench.
Fran Garcia is set to start at left-back, and Ancelotti confirmed in his Wednesday press conference that Rodrygo – despite recent criticism -will be in the starting lineup.
Conclusion
This is an absolutely massive football showdown, and plenty of drama is expected on Saturday night. While Real Madrid have reacted well to their Champions League disappointment, Barcelona appear to be the stronger side right now and should be able to beat their arch-rivals in a very narrow contest.
Verdict: Barcelona win
Best odds: 11/10
Bookmaker: ZetBet
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