There is a trophy up for grabs as Barcelona and Real Madrid square off in the Copa del Rey final on Saturday night at Estadio de La Cartuja in the most recent El Clásico match.
Real Madrid are aiming to lift the trophy for the 21st time, while Barcelona are seeking to win the tournament for the 32nd time in their history. Los Blancos are under pressure to win after their recent UEFA Champions League elimination.
Few could have imagined how strong Barcelona could be under Hansi Flick this season. The German manager hopes to guide the squad to four titles in his first season in charge, which would be an absolutely incredible accomplishment.
The Catalan club will be trying to defeat Real Madrid for the third time this season. They recently won 4-0 at the Bernabeu in LaLiga back in October. They are the most successful team in Copa del Rey history, having won the trophy 31 times, with their most recent victory occurring in 2020–21.
But the club are going into this match with plenty of injuries. Flick may have to employ a different lineup in order to help the club win their first trophy of the season.
Barcelona’s predicted lineup (4-2-3-1): Szczesny; Kounde, Cubarsi, I Martinez, Martin; De Jong, Pedri; Yamal, F Lopez, Raphinha; Torres
Ferran Torres is expected to be selected in the No.9 since Barcelona’s top scorer, Robert Lewandowski, is out with a hamstring injury. Lewandowski isn’t expected to return until the league match against Real Madrid next month.
Gerard Martin will start at left-back because Alejandro Balde hasn’t recovered from his own hamstring problem in time for the final. Marc Casado and Marc Bernal are also sidelined. Marc-Andre ter Stegen is back in the squad after recovering from a serious knee injury sustained in September last year.
Wojciech Szczesny, however, is probably going to stay in goal for the match.
Fermin Lopez might be selected over Dani Olmo for the number 10 position because of the latter’s recent fitness concerns. Pau Cubarsi is expected to return to the team in the middle of the defence, possibly replacing Ronald Araujo.
Raphinha and Lamine Yamal will undoubtedly start for Barcelona in the wide areas. Frenkie de Jong and Jules Kounde, who were benched against Mallorca in the previous game, should also return to the starting lineup.
Real Madrid have won each of their last four meetings with FC Barcelona, doing the double over their rivals in the league last season and winning the duel at the Santiago Bernabéu 3-2 on their way to the La Liga title. The Merengues have not lost at home to the Catalans since March 2022.
FC Barcelona predicted lineup (4-2-3-1): Inaki Pena (GK) – Jules Koundé, Pau Cubarsí, Inigo Martinez, Alejandro Balde – Marc Casado, Pedri – Lamine Yamal, Fermin Lopez, Raphinha – Robert Lewandowski.
Carlo Ancelotti’s starting 11 should also be unchanged from the one that completed a dramatic comeback against Dortmund.
Jude Bellingham has returned to his familiar role as a shadow striker, and should roam behind the front two of Mbappé and Vinícius Jr. Federico Valverde, Eduardo Camavinga and Aurelien Tchouameni will likely complete Real’s young and athletic midfield unit.
Eder Militao and Antonio Rüdiger will hope to keep tabs on Barca’s ferocious attack, while backup keep Andriy Lunin will be forced in following another injury to starter Thibaut Courtois.
Dani Carvajal and David Alaba will not be among the squad as they recover from long-term injuries.
Real Madrid predicted lineup (4-4-2): Andriy Lunin (GK) – Lucas Vázquez, Eder Militao, Antonio Rüdiger, Ferland Mendy – Federico Valverde, Aurelien Tchouameni, Eduardo Camavinga, Jude Bellingham – Vinicius Jr, Kylian Mbappé.
