PREVIEW | FC Barcelona v Real Madrid
This is not just any Copa del Rey final, it is a Clásico Copa del Rey final with Barça facing Real Madrid in La Cartuja stadium in Seville on Saturday, kick off at 10pm CEST. The 121st final of the competition will be played out on a predicted warm spring evening with Hansi Flick's team looking to claim their 32nd victory and their second trophy of the season.
More than a trophy
The two rivals for the Copa del Rey are battling on other fronts. The blaugranes are looking for a win in the cup to boost morale as they aim for another treble with Barça leading the league by four points and facing a Champions League semi-final against Serie A giants Internazionale. Real Madrid, for their part, are in second place in the league behind Hansi Flick's team, Another defeat for Carlo Ancelotti's team on Saturday could affect their hopes in La Liga after being knocked out of the Champions League just a fortnight ago against Premier League side Arsenal.
A win for Real Madrid, in contrast, would give them hope ahead of next month's La Liga showdown against Barça at the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys. Safe to say, Saturday's result could have consequences beyond the Copa del Rey title.
26,000 culers in Seville
The remodelled La Cartuja stadium will be packed to the rafters with 26,000 Barça fans having made the trip to Seville for the game. Some players, however, will be missing out as Hansi Flick will without the injured Marc Bernal, Alejandro Blade, Marc Casadó and Robert Lewandowski. For Real Madrid the likes of Dani Carvajal, Militão and Camavinga will miss out due to injury on a final that could well turn out to be more than a cup final.
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