Football fans are in for a treat as Real Madrid and Barcelona are set to clash in the Copa del Rey final this month, marking another chapter in the legendary El Clasico rivalry.
This final will be the fourth El Clasico match of the season. Earlier, Barcelona triumphed over Real Madrid 5-2 in the Spanish Super Cup final in January. This upcoming game is another chance for both teams to win a trophy, and it`s their first Copa del Rey final encounter since 2014. In that previous final, Real Madrid defeated Barcelona 2-1.
Winning the Copa del Rey would give either team their first major silverware of the season. However, both giants are still competing for the La Liga title, with Barcelona currently holding a narrow three-point lead over Real Madrid. Furthermore, both teams remain contenders in the UEFA Champions League, aiming for European glory.
How to Watch El Clasico Final
- Date: Saturday, April 26
- Location: Estadio de La Cartuja — Seville, Spain
- Live stream: ESPN+ (Check local listings)
Real Madrid`s Path to the Final
Real Madrid secured their place in the final after a thrilling two-legged semi-final against Real Sociedad. They won 5-4 on aggregate, needing extra time in the second leg. A 1-0 victory in the first leg proved vital. The second leg was a goal fest, with Real Sociedad taking a 3-2 aggregate lead in the 80th minute thanks to Mikel Oyarzabal. Jude Bellingham quickly equalized, but another Oyarzabal goal in stoppage time forced extra time. Antonio Rudiger then scored the decisive goal for Real Madrid just before penalties.
Barcelona`s Path to the Final
Barcelona`s dramatic semi-final was in the first leg, which ended in a 4-4 draw against Atletico Madrid. In the second leg in Madrid, Barcelona played dominantly and won 1-0, securing their spot in the final. Ferran Torres scored the only goal in the 27th minute. Barcelona controlled the game, taking 15 shots compared to Atletico`s six and creating more expected goals (1.78 vs 0.82). Impressively, Barcelona did not allow a single shot on target in the second leg.
Dominic Ashworth