Spanish football’s biggest rivalry will be reignited this Saturday when Real Madrid and Barcelona clash in a historic Copa del Rey final at Seville’s La Cartuja stadium – their first showdown in the final of the competition in over 10 years.
This will be El Clasico 260 and a record eighth time the giants have met in the Copa del Rey final. Madrid hold the head-to-head in Copa finals with four wins to Barcelona’s three, with legendary final victories in 2011 and 2014. Cristiano Ronaldo’s extra-time header clinched a dramatic 1-0 win in 2011 and Gareth Bale’s stunning solo goal in 2014 confirmed a 2-1 victory.
It is Barcelona, however, who have the advantage this season, battering Madrid 4-0 in La Liga and 5-2 in the Supercopa de Espana final. Victory on Saturday for new head coach Hansi Flick would make him only the second coach in club history to win his first three Clasicos, with Pep Guardiola the other.
Barca, the cup holder and record 30-time champion, and Madrid, which has 19 Copa titles, are both determined to win it. The clash is also a curtain raiser for a potential title-decider in La Liga on May 11 where only four points separate the two teams.
