Preview for Barcelona v Real Madrid
The pressure will be on Real Madrid and coach Carlo Ancelotti when they take on Barcelona in the Copa del Rey final on Saturday night.
Ancelotti came in for stinging criticism last week following Madrid’s capitulation against Arsenal in the Champions League, the Gunners cruising to a 5-1 aggregate win in the quarter-finals.
It was a meek way to go out and Madridistas expected an awful lot better.
Redemption could come in the form of a Copa triumph against their arch-rivals but defeat and the knives would be out for the Italian despite his impressive record over two spells at the Santiago Bernabeu.
The focus has ramped up further on Ancelotti with Bayer Leverkusen admitting they have a gentleman’s agreement with Xabi Alonso that enables the former Madrid midfielder to speak to Europe’s biggest clubs should they come knocking.
It seems hiring Alonso is the logical step for Madrid but the waters would certainly be muddied if Ancelotti could lead his side to a league and cup double.
For that to happen, Madrid would need to overcome a four-point deficit to Barca in La Liga – last night’s 1-0 win at Getafe kept them within striking distance – and beat the Catalans in a one-off game, something they have failed to manage this season.
Barca have been emphatic winners in their two previous meetings in the 2024-25 campaign.
Hansi Flick’s side stunned the Bernabeu with a 4-0 win in the first league Clasico in October and were then 5-2 victors in the Spanish Super Cup in Saudi Arabia in January.
The results were a complete reversal of last season when Madrid won both league encounters and the Super Cup.
The head to head in the Copa del Rey final
🧵👇 See the thread: pic.twitter.com/RBC6zxqHs5
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) April 24, 2025
Team News for Barcelona v Real Madrid
Both sides rested players for their midweek assignments but both emerged victorious.
Barca beat Real Mallorca 1-0 with a win more emphatic than the scoreline suggests while Madrid were made to struggle before edging out Getafe.
There was some collateral damage for Ancelotti, though, with Eduardo Camavinga and David Alaba sustaining injuries that will keep them out for this weekend, and beyond in the case of the France midfielder.
Madrid are likely to break up their ‘Fab Four’ and adopt a slightly more conservative approach with Jude Bellingham joining Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Jr in a front three.
That means Rodrygo, who has scored just once in 21 games, drops out.
There’s also the conundrum of where to play Federico Valverde. At right-back, to combat the threat of Raphinha, or in midfield to prevent the likes of Pedri and Frenkie de Jong taking control?
Barca will be without striker Robert Lewandowski and left-back Alejandro Balde due to injuries. Wojciech Szczesny is likely to start in goal.
Predicted line-ups for Barcelona v Real Madrid
Barcelona: Szczesny; Kounde, Martinez, Cubarsi, Martin; De Jong, Pedri, Olmo, Yamal, Raphinha; Torres
Real Madrid: Courtois; Vazquez, Asencio, Rudiger, Garcia; Tchouameni, Ceballos, Valverde; Bellingham, Vinicius Jr, Mbappe
How to watch Barcelona v Real Madrid: TV and online stream
Barcelona versus Real Madrid kicks off at 9pm UK time on Saturday night with the game taking place at La Cartuja in Seville.
You can watch it in the UK on Premier Sports. It can be streamed on the Premier Sports app.
😍 ¡ESTÁ PRECIOSO!
🏟️ 𝗘𝗹 𝗘𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗼 𝗟𝗮 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗷𝗮 se engalana para la gran final de la #CopaDelReyMAPFRE.
🙌 𝟳𝟬.𝟬𝟬𝟬 𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗮𝗱𝗼𝗿𝗲𝘀 rugirán desde sus gradas.#LaCopaMola pic.twitter.com/CtIbxDKv12
— RFEF (@rfef) April 24, 2025
The Stats for Barcelona v Real Madrid
- The is the eighth time the sides have met in the Copa del Rey final.
- Madrid have won four of the previous seven.
Prediction for Barcelona v Real Madrid
El Clasico is always a tough one to call but we fancy Barca to maintain their recent dominance and pile the pressure on Ancelotti.
Barcelona definitely have the edge in midfield but Madrid’s front three can trouble any defence.
Prediction: Barcelona 2-1 Real Madrid
