Barcelona vs Real Madrid

Estadio de La Cartuja forms the backdrop for a mouth-watering Copa del Rey final between familiar foes Barcelona and Real Madrid. 

As the record-time Copa del Rey winners (31 times) and current La Liga pacesetters, Barcelona take on arch-rivals Real Madrid in the cup final for the first time since a 2-0 loss in 2013/14. Bidding to ascend the throne for the first time since hammering Athletic Bilbao 4-0 in the 2020/21 title showdown, Los Blaugranas will take the field on the back of consecutive H2H wins via an aggregate score of 9-2. Hansi Flick’s charges had scored 4+ goals in the opening three Copa del Rey rounds this term before squeezing past Atletico Madrid 5-4 on aggregate in the semi-finals. Furthermore, the Catalan heavyweights have been in formidable form in 2025, losing just one of their 27 competitive matches this calendar year (W22, D4). However, losing marquee striker Robert Lewandowski to injury could derail Barca’s chances in this match-up.

In the meantime, lifting the Copa del Rey title for the second time in three years offers Real Madrid their best chance to add to their glittering trophy cabinet after exiting the Champions League in the quarter-finals. Four points adrift of Barcelona in La Liga, Los Blancos may find this a welcome distraction as they seek more history under exit-bound manager Carlo Ancelotti. Like their bitter rivals, Real Madrid won their semi-final tie 5-4 on aggregate, though they needed extra time to get the better of Real Sociedad. Ancelotti hopes to have Kylian Mbappe back in the squad as he aims to avoid losing three consecutive H2Hs against Barcelona, a fate Madrid last suffered in 2023.