The stage is set, the stakes are sky-high, and Spanish football’s fiercest rivalry is ready to erupt once again. On Saturday night, El Clásico descends upon Estadio de La Cartuja—and this time, silverware is on the line.
Barcelona and Real Madrid collide in the 2025 Copa del Rey final, a clash soaked in history, pride, and pressure. Barça, already the kings of this competition with 31 triumphs, are gunning for number 32. On the other side, a wounded Real Madrid arrive with 20 titles in the bag—but also with something to prove after a painful Champions League exit.
Enter Hansi Flick. The German tactician could take a giant leap toward a dream debut treble. But first, he must conquer Madrid on the grandest domestic stage of all.
Barcelona head into the Copa del Rey final with the upper hand—not just in silverware, but in the title race too. Flick’s men sit four points clear of Real Madrid with just five La Liga games to go, and one more Clásico still looms on the calendar. But with a 14-match unbeaten run in the league, it’s Barça who currently hold all the cards.
Their momentum rolled on midweek with a narrow 1-0 win over Mallorca—Dani Olmo delivering the decisive blow just after the break. But while the result flattered the visitors, their wastefulness in front of goal raised fresh concerns—especially with Robert Lewandowski sweating on fitness.
The Polish talisman, with 40 goals in 48 games this season, pulled up with a hamstring injury in the recent 4-3 thriller against Celta Vigo and missed the Mallorca clash. He’s a major doubt for the final—and for the looming Champions League semi-final against Inter.
In his absence, Ferran Torres is expected to lead the line. The Spaniard is enjoying a breakout year, finally hitting double digits in La Liga for the first time in his top-flight career—including his Manchester City days.
Elsewhere, the injury list remains a worry. Alejandro Balde hasn’t shaken off his own hamstring issue, meaning Gerard Martin is likely to fill in at left-back. Youngsters Marc Casado and Marc Bernal remain sidelined. The good news? Marc-André ter Stegen is back in the squad after a long road back from knee surgery—though Wojciech Szczesny is expected to keep the gloves for the final.
Pau Cubarsí should return at the heart of defence, with Ronald Araújo possibly missing out. Fermin Lopez may edge out Dani Olmo in the No.10 slot, with the latter still not fully match-fit.
But there’s no doubt out wide: Lamine Yamal and Raphinha are locked in, locked on, and ready to torment. Frenkie de Jong and Jules Koundé also return to the fold after being rested midweek.
Barcelona may be bruised, but they’re battle-ready. All that remains is for them to finish what they’ve started.
BARCELONA predicted lineup vs REAL MADRID: Szczesny (GK); Kounde, Cubarsi, I Martinez, Martin; De Jong, Pedri; Yamal, F Lopez, Raphinha; Torres.
Real Madrid are still clinging to their La Liga dream—and on Wednesday, they kept that flicker alive. A 1-0 win over Getafe, sealed by a rocket from Arda Güler, was enough to keep pressure on Barcelona. Ancelotti rotated his stars with one eye firmly on Saturday’s blockbuster final, and still walked away with the points.
Madrid’s Copa del Rey journey? Nothing short of chaotic. The second leg against Real Sociedad turned into a footballing fever dream—4-4 after extra time, with Los Blancos only just scraping through 5-4 on aggregate. They were just ten minutes away from crashing out. Ten. Minutes.
And yet, amid the chaos, questions swirl. Ancelotti may be chasing another domestic double, but his future remains a cloud of speculation. The brutal Champions League exit to Arsenal reopened the door to Brazil’s long-standing courtship, while Xabi Alonso’s name echoes louder in the Bernabéu halls.
As for team news—brace yourself. Eduardo Camavinga and David Alaba are both out after limping off midweek with muscle issues, the former done for the season. Long-term absentees Dani Carvajal and Éder Militão remain sidelined, but there’s cautious optimism around Ferland Mendy and—more crucially—Kylian Mbappé.
The French superstar rolled his ankle against Arsenal but is expected to be passed fit. If he plays, El Clásico gets a whole lot spicier. Mendy could also return to the squad, but if not, Fran García is ready to step in at left-back.
And then there’s Rodrygo. Criticized, doubted, but backed by Ancelotti—who’s already confirmed he’ll start on Saturday.
Madrid may be bruised and patched together, but they are Real Madrid—and in a final, that’s all that matters.
REAL MADRID predicted lineup vs BARCELONA: Courtois (GK); Vazquez, Asencio, Rudiger, F Garcia; Tchouameni, Valverde; Rodrygo, Bellingham, Vinicius; Mbappe.
This one has all the makings of a footballing epic. The stage is grand, the stakes are immense, and with pride, silverware, and legacy on the line, Saturday night promises fireworks. Real Madrid have rallied well since their European heartbreak, but right now, Barcelona look sharper, more balanced, and just that bit hungrier.
It won’t be a walk in the park—this is El Clásico, after all—but we’re backing the Catalans to rise to the moment and edge a tense, unforgettable battle to claim Copa del Rey glory for the 32nd time.
Prediction: Barcelona winner.
