The Copa del Rey closing is all the time a giant occasion, however that is heightened much more when it is also a Clasico with Barcelona and Actual Madrid going through off. That is the third assembly between these groups this season and the stakes could not be greater. Barcelona are chasing a possible treble and Actual Madrid have an opportunity to save lots of their season and push towards a home double.
Los Blancos is likely to be trailing Barcelona by 4 factors in league play, however a victory in a cup closing could possibly be sufficient to shift momentum of their favor. To try this, Actual Madrid might want to overcome a star-studded Barcelona assault that, even with out Robert Lewandowski, has celebrity wingers in Lamine Yamal and Raphinha. Madrid’s protection hasn’t been one in every of their sturdy fits this season, so Carlo Ancelotti might want to pull out a managerial masterclass.
Listed here are storylines, how one can watch the match and extra.
Can Lamine Yamal be one in every of soccer’s finest ever: Barcelona’s teenager is already placing up eye-popping numbers
James Benge
Methods to watch El Clasico, odds
- Date: Saturday, April 26 | Time: 4 p.m. ET
- Location: Estadio de La Cartuja — Seville, Spain
- Reside stream: ESPN+
- Odds: Barcelona +105; Draw +280; Actual Madrid +200
Final assembly
That is really their second cup closing of the season after assembly within the Spanish Tremendous Cup closing in January. It was a dominant Barcelona victory with Flick’s crew going up 4-1 at halftime en path to a 5-2 victory. Yamal, Lewandowski, and Raphinha all received concerned in that match, exhibiting simply how harmful Barcelona’s assault will be. Rodrygo and Kylian Mbappe did rating for Actual Madrid but it surely would not be sufficient choosing up a heavy loss.
Potential refereeing controversy?
Whereas Actual Madrid did specify that they will not threaten to not play within the Copa del Rey closing, the Spanish soccer federation rejected their request for brand spanking new officers within the match. Throughout a press convention in preparation for the ultimate, referee Pablo Gonzalez Fuertes spoke concerning the threats and abuse that he has acquired, together with from Actual Madrid’s personal TV community, “Actual Madrid TV”.
Actual Madrid claimed that these feedback imply that Gonzolez Fuertes cannot make unbiased selections however with RFEF rejecting Actual Madrid’s request, they will must undergo the match with the assigned crew.
Predicted lineups
Barcelona: Wojciech Szczesny, Jules Kounde, Ronald Araujo, Pau Cubarsi, Inigo Martinez, Pedri, Gavi, Lamine Yamal, Dani Olmo, Raphinha, Ferran Torres
Actual Madrid: Thibaut Courtois, Francisco Garcia, Antonio Rudiger, Raul Asencio, Lucas Vazquez, Jude Bellingham, Federico Valverde, Luka Modric, Rodrygo, Vinicius Junior, Kylian Mbappe
Participant to observe
Vinicius Junior, Actual Madrid: It was robust deciding between Vini Jr and Mbappe right here, however the Brazilian has the slight edge due to how Barcelona will defend Mbappe. Barcelona’s excessive line will be capable to catch Mbappe offside, however Vini Jr can have a robust probability to make issues occur on the dribble, going through their banged-up protection. The Brazilian shall be set for a big position in making issues occur on the wing, receiving the ball typically and attending to run at defenders. If he is not capable of step up right here, then Actual Madrid’s season could possibly be coming to a halt.
Storyline to observe
The treble watch is on: With Inter knocked out of the Coppa Italia, Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain are the 2 groups in Europe remaining with an opportunity at profitable their league, home cup, and Champions League. With out Lewandowski, different members of the assault might want to step as much as fill the void of his targets. That shall be doable as a result of Barcelona has a Ballon d’Or contender in Raphinha, and the very best younger participant on this planet in Lamine Yamal on their facet, however they will nonetheless must dwell as much as the stress of the match. At this stage, Barcelona are anticipated to defeat Actual Madrid and that shall be no straightforward feat as kind goes out the window in rivalry matches, particularly when silverware is on the road.
Prediction
This would possibly not go the best way of the Spanish Tremendous Cup closing but it surely’s nonetheless going to be all Barcelona. Their assault creates an excessive amount of for Actual Madrid to deal with and Raphinha will step as much as push Barcelona to victory whereas Pedri units the tempo behind him. With that lined as much as create nightmares for Madrid’s protection, it’ll result in a closer-than-expected, however nonetheless complete, Barcelona victory. Choose: Barcelona 2, Actual Madrid 1
Newest information
– What positions do Barcelona and Actual Madrid have the benefit on within the closing?
– Can Lamine Yamal be the most effective soccer gamers ever?
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