Spanish football’s fiercest rivalry returns to the spotlight as Real Madrid and Barcelona face off in the Copa del Rey final this Saturday, marking their first meeting in the competition’s title match in over ten years.
The historic showdown will unfold at La Cartuja Stadium in Seville, adding another chapter to the long-standing El Clasico saga. This will be the eighth time the two clubs contest a Copa del Rey final, with Real Madrid narrowly leading the head-to-head with four wins compared to Barcelona’s three.
Among the most iconic moments from past finals are Real Madrid’s victories in 2011 and 2014. In 2011, under the guidance of Jose Mourinho, Real ended an 18-year wait for the trophy by defeating Pep Guardiola’s Barcelona 1-0 in extra time, courtesy of a powerful Cristiano Ronaldo header. Three years later, Carlo Ancelotti’s side claimed another memorable win with a 2-1 triumph, sealed by Gareth Bale’s remarkable solo goal after a blistering 50-metre run down the left flank.
Real’s other Copa del Rey triumphs over Barcelona came in 1936 and 1975. Barcelona, meanwhile, secured final victories against their rivals in 1968, 1983, and 1990.
Barcelona head into Saturday’s encounter with confidence, having already defeated Real twice this season—4-0 in La Liga at the Santiago Bernabeu and 5-2 in the Spanish Super Cup final held in Saudi Arabia. The Catalan giants are aiming to extend their record tally to 32 Copa del Rey titles. Athletic Bilbao follow with 24, while Real Madrid sit in third place with 20 titles.
Despite both clubs being European powerhouses, they have never met in a UEFA Champions League final. In total, Real and Barcelona have contested 18 finals across all competitions. Real Madrid lead the trophy count with 11 titles from these encounters—four in the Copa del Rey and seven in the Spanish Super Cup—while Barcelona have won seven, including three in each of those two competitions and one in the now-defunct Spanish League Cup in 1983.
Saturday’s clash promises high intensity and another memorable installment in this legendary rivalry.
