Leading up to the highly anticipated Copa del Rey final this Saturday, which pits eternal rivals Barcelona against Real Madrid in another El Clásico, a look at their current seasons shows contrasts. While both Spanish powerhouses are contenders for the league title, and Barcelona still chases a potential treble, their paths diverge. Real Madrid is already eliminated from the Champions League and trails Barcelona by four points in La Liga, while Barcelona controls its destiny across all remaining competitions. Managerial situations also differ significantly: Carlo Ancelotti`s future at Real Madrid is uncertain, contrasting with Barcelona`s apparent satisfaction with Hansi Flick`s first season.
However, in rivalry encounters, especially with a trophy at stake, current form often becomes irrelevant. This upcoming match marks only the eighth occasion Barcelona and Real Madrid have faced off in the Copa del Rey final. Interestingly, despite their frequent appearances in the Champions League, these giants have never contested the final of Europe`s premier club competition against each other. While they have met in multiple Spanish Super Cup finals, that tournament`s format doesn`t carry the same significance as reaching the Copa del Rey final, a traditional knockout competition.
Copa del Rey History
Athletic Club currently holds the trophy, but a new champion will be crowned after Saturday`s match. The Copa del Rey, a competition spanning 122 years since its inception in 1903, sees its final contested by these two rivals for only the eighth time. Barcelona leads the overall title count with 31 victories, while Real Madrid has lifted the trophy 20 times. On eighteen occasions, the cup winner has also secured the La Liga title, achieving a domestic double. In their previous seven Copa del Rey final meetings, Barcelona has won three times, with Real Madrid emerging victorious in four.
1936: Real Madrid 2, Barcelona 1
Held in Valencia, this was the inaugural Copa del Rey final between the rivals. Real Madrid established a decisive 2-0 lead within just 12 minutes, thanks to goals from Eugenio Hilario and Simon Lecue. While Josep Escola managed to pull one back for Barcelona, it wasn`t sufficient to prevent Madrid from securing the victory.
1968: Barcelona 1, Real Madrid 0
Hosted at Real Madrid`s own Santiago Bernabéu stadium, Barcelona exacted revenge over three decades after their initial final encounter. An early goal once again proved decisive: an own goal by Fernando Zunzunegui in the sixth minute gave Barcelona the lead, which they held to claim the trophy on their rival`s turf.
1974: Real Madrid 4, Barcelona 0
The wait for the next final meeting was much shorter, just six years later, held at Atlético Madrid`s Vicente Calderón stadium. An early goal by Santillana in the fifth minute set the tone, but Real Madrid truly dominated by adding three more goals in the second half, resulting in a comprehensive 4-0 victory.
1983: Barcelona 2, Real Madrid 1
The rivals continued their exchange of Copa del Rey final victories in Zaragoza. The match remained tightly contested and level for large periods, but Marcos Alonso delivered a dramatic diving header in the final minute (90th) to snatch the trophy for Barcelona – a truly iconic moment in the El Clásico history.
1990: Barcelona 2, Real Madrid 0
Returning to Valencia`s Mestalla stadium, Barcelona secured consecutive Copa del Rey final victories against their rivals. In a match with little to separate the teams for long spells, Guillermo Amor broke the deadlock in the 68th minute. Julio Salinas then sealed the 2-0 win with a second goal in the 90th minute.
2011: Real Madrid 1, Barcelona 0 after extra time
A gap of 21 years preceded the next final meeting, and for the first time in this specific fixture, it extended beyond 90 minutes into extra time. Following a goalless regulation period at Mestalla, Cristiano Ronaldo proved the difference-maker. A header from the Portuguese star, assisted by Angel Di María, was enough for Jose Mourinho`s Real Madrid side to claim the trophy.
2014: Real Madrid 2, Barcelona 1
Continuing the trend, the final returned to Valencia just three years later, featuring one of the most memorable goals in the rivalry`s cup history. Ángel Di María scored Real Madrid`s opener. However, the defining moment was Gareth Bale`s extraordinary solo run down the wing in the 85th minute. Although Marc Bartra scored for Barcelona, it wasn`t enough to match Bale`s winner. Bale notably outpaced Bartra during his incredible surge, demonstrating remarkable stamina late in the match.
Adrian Whitmore