Football fans are in for a treat as Real Madrid and Barcelona are scheduled to clash in the Copa del Rey final later this month, adding another chapter to the legendary El Clasico rivalry.
This final encounter will be the fourth El Clasico match of the current season, a series highlighted by Barcelona`s dominant 5-2 victory over Real Madrid in the Spanish Super Cup final in January. Once again, this month`s game offers a chance to secure silverware, marking the first time these two giants will compete in the Copa del Rey final since 2014. In that previous final, Real Madrid emerged victorious with a 2-1 win over Barcelona.
The upcoming final presents both teams with their first opportunity to clinch a major trophy this season. However, it may not be their last chance for silverware. Both Barcelona and Real Madrid remain strong contenders in La Liga, with Barcelona currently holding a narrow three-point lead over Real Madrid. Furthermore, both teams are still participating in the UEFA Champions League, harboring ambitions of winning the prestigious European title.
Here is a preview of what you need to know about the highly anticipated El Clasico final.
El Clasico Final: How to Watch
- Date: Saturday, April 26
- Location: Estadio de La Cartuja — Seville, Spain
- Live stream: ESPN+
Real Madrid`s Path to the Final
Real Madrid, led by Carlo Ancelotti, took a dramatic route to the final on Tuesday, overcoming Real Sociedad with a 5-4 aggregate score after extra time. Their narrow 1-0 victory in the first leg proved crucial, especially as a flurry of late goals created a tense back-and-forth battle as both teams pushed for victory. Real Sociedad briefly took the lead with a 3-2 aggregate score in the 80th minute thanks to Mikel Oyarzabal`s goal. However, Jude Bellingham responded just two minutes later, leveling the score. Oyarzabal then scored again in stoppage time, forcing the game into extra time. Antonio Rudiger ultimately secured Real Madrid`s victory with a goal five minutes before the match would have proceeded to penalties.
Barcelona`s Path to the Final
Barcelona experienced their drama in the first leg, which concluded in a 4-4 draw against Atletico Madrid. Hansi Flick`s team delivered a strong performance in the second leg in Madrid on Wednesday, securing a 1-0 win to guarantee their place in the final. Ferran Torres scored the decisive goal in the 27th minute. Barcelona dominated the second leg, registering 15 shots compared to Atletico`s six and generating 1.78 expected goals while limiting their opponent to just 0.82. Notably, Barcelona did not allow a single shot on target in the second leg.
Adrian Whitmore