Copa del Rey 2025 Final: Real Madrid vs Barcelona Preview, Prediction and Where To Watch The El Clasico LIVE

The iconic rivalry of Spanish football is set to ignite again. Will Hansi Flick make the first move towards an extraordinary treble by claiming victory in the 2025 Copa del Rey final? Discover our prediction and preview for Real Madrid vs Barcelona .

Real Madrid vs Barcelona: Preview

Spanish football’s fiercest rivalry reaches another thrilling chapter this weekend as Barcelona faces Real Madrid in the 2025 Copa del Rey final. For Hansi Flick, this could be the first step towards an extraordinary treble in his debut season at the club.

The German manager has led Barcelona to the top of La Liga, secured a spot in the UEFA Champions League semi-finals, and is now just one win away from domestic cup glory. Barcelona currently holds a four-point lead over Real Madrid in the league with five games to go. The two sides still have one more Clásico to play, which could prove crucial in the title race. However, with Barcelona unbeaten in their last 14 La Liga matches, they are firmly in control. According to the Opta supercomputer, they have an 87.0% chance of securing the league title.

Flick’s side continued their strong domestic run midweek with a 1-0 victory over Mallorca. Dani Olmo netted the only goal of the match shortly after halftime, though the scoreline didn’t reflect Barcelona’s dominance. The team attempted 40 shots, tying the record for the most in a La Liga match since the 2003-04 season.

Barcelona’s profligacy in front of goal will put even more pressure on the potential absence of Robert Lewandowski. The Polish striker, who has netted 40 goals in 48 appearances across all competitions this season, missed the Mallorca match after picking up a hamstring injury in the 4-3 win over Celta Vigo. He remains a major doubt for both the Copa del Rey final and Barcelona’s upcoming Champions League semi-final tie against Inter.

With Lewandowski sidelined, Ferran Torres is expected to lead the attack. The Spaniard has reached double figures in La Liga for the first time in his career, scoring 10 goals this season, including his time at Manchester City in the Premier League.

High-scoring encounters have been a trademark of Barcelona’s season. Their semi-final clash with Atlético Madrid in this competition was a dramatic affair, with the sides drawing 4-4 in the first leg before Barcelona secured a 1-0 win in the return leg. Across all competitions, Barcelona’s matches have averaged 4.0 goals per game – the highest of any club in Europe’s top five leagues.

Real Madrid also have injury concerns of their own. Kylian Mbappé, who has scored 33 goals in his debut season, is racing against time to be fit for the final after suffering an ankle injury during their Champions League quarter-final defeat to Arsenal. He was suspended for their La Liga win over Athletic Club and nearly missed their midweek victory against Getafe.

If Mbappé is fit, his pace and movement behind Barcelona’s high defensive line could prove crucial. Ferland Mendy is also a doubt, but both he and Mbappé are expected to pass late fitness tests.

Madrid kept their slim title hopes alive on Wednesday with a narrow 1-0 victory over Getafe. Arda Güler’s 20th-minute strike from outside the box secured the win after Carlo Ancelotti rested key players ahead of Saturday’s final.

Aside from long-term absentees Éder Militão and Dani Carvajal, Madrid’s squad is relatively healthy.

Madrid also reached the Copa del Rey final in dramatic fashion – this time in the second leg against Real Sociedad. The two sides played out an exhilarating 4-4 extra-time draw, giving Madrid a 5-4 aggregate win, although they were just 10 minutes away from elimination.

Despite the potential for another domestic double, Carlo Ancelotti’s future remains uncertain. Their heavy Champions League exit to Arsenal has only fueled rumors linking him with the Brazil national team role, with Bayer Leverkusen manager Xabi Alonso also mentioned as a possible successor.

Madrid currently trail Barcelona by four points in La Liga with five games remaining. Even a cup final win may not be enough for Ancelotti to see out his contract until 2026.

Real Madrid vs Barcelona: Head-to-Head

This will be the 37th encounter between Barcelona and Real Madrid in the Copa del Rey, with Barcelona currently leading the head-to-head 16-13, including eight draws.

Barcelona are the competition’s most successful club, having won the trophy 31 times, while Madrid rank third with 20 victories.

Barça have had the upper hand in the rivalry this season, securing a dominant 4-0 win at the Bernabéu in La Liga and a 5-2 victory in the Supercopa de España.

Real Madrid vs Barcelona: Team News and Predicted Lineup

Real Madrid – Team News

Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappé is expected to be fit for Saturday’s Copa del Rey final after suffering an injury in the Champions League against Arsenal.

This will be the eighth time the two sides have met in the Copa del Rey final, and together, Barcelona and Real Madrid have won the prestigious competition 51 times. However, the timing of the match is less than ideal for Real Madrid, as they will be missing some key players.

While Mbappé’s potential return is a boost, versatile midfielder Eduardo Camavinga and full-back David Alaba are both ruled out after picking up injuries in Wednesday night’s 1-0 win over Getafe. Alaba started the match but was forced to leave at halftime due to a muscle problem. Camavinga replaced him but suffered a groin injury following a heavy tackle. Though he completed the match, it was later revealed that he tore an adductor tendon and will miss the rest of the season.

Carlo Ancelotti confirmed that Fran Garcia will step in at left-back to cover for the absences. Meanwhile, Ferland Mendy is also a doubt, struggling with a hamstring issue.

Despite these injuries, Ancelotti remains confident, stating, “We could play a 4-4-2 with six midfielders and no striker. We have to defend well, and I’m sure we’ll do that and create chances at the other end too.”

To achieve that, he may turn to the experience of Luka Modrić in the midfield. The Croatian legend, who is likely to leave Real Madrid when his contract expires at the end of the season, will be eager to add one final piece of silverware to his illustrious career.

Barcelona have already gotten the better of Real Madrid twice this season, first with a 4-0 victory at the Bernabéu in La Liga and then with a 5-2 win in the Spanish Super Cup.

Real Madrid – Predicted Lineup (4-3-1-2)

• Goalkeper – Courtois
• Defenders – Valverde, Rudiger, Asencio, Fran Garcia
• Midfielders – Modric, Tchouaméni , Bellingham, Ceballos
• Forwards – Vinicius Jr., Mbappe/Rodrygo

Barcelona – Team News

Barcelona will be without Robert Lewandowski for Saturday’s Copa del Rey final against Real Madrid, but they will welcome back captain Marc-André ter Stegen.

Lewandowski, who has scored 40 goals in 48 appearances across all competitions this season, picked up a muscle injury during Barcelona’s comeback win over Celta Vigo last weekend. A club medical update confirmed: “Tests carried out this Sunday have revealed that Robert Lewandowski has an injury to the semitendinosus muscle in his left thigh. His return to team training will depend on how the injury progresses.”

Although Barcelona didn’t specify a timeline for Lewandowski’s return, he has not been included in the matchday squad. Fortunately, Hansi Flick can call upon Ferran Torres to lead the line in the final. The Spaniard scored the crucial goal in the semi-final second leg against Atlético Madrid and is tied for the most goals in the competition this season, having netted five times alongside Julian Alvarez and Endrick.

Torres is expected to be joined in attack by Lamine Yamal and Raphinha, while Dani Olmo will continue in the number 10 role, having proven his fitness over the past week. Frenkie de Jong and Pedri are set to resume their central midfield partnership, but with Alejandro Balde still not ready to return, Gerard Martin could be chosen at left-back. Jules Kounde and Pau Cubarsi will return after being rested for the midweek win over Real Mallorca.

In more positive news for Barcelona, captain ter Stegen has been included in the matchday squad for the first time in seven months after recovering from a serious knee injury. Although Wojciech Szczesny is likely to start in goal, ter Stegen’s return is a significant boost for the team as they head to Seville.

Barcelona – Predicted Lineup (4-2-3-1)

• Goalkeper – Szczesny
• Defenders – Kounde, Cubarsi, Martinez, Martin
• Midfielders – Pedri, De Jong, Olmo
• Forwards – Raphinha, Torres, Yamal

Real Madrid vs Barcelona: Prediction

Saturday’s clash promises to be an enormous spectacle, brimming with excitement and high stakes. Real Madrid have bounced back strongly after their Champions League exit, but Barcelona currently hold the edge in form, and we predict the Catalans will narrowly secure the Copa del Rey for the 32nd time in their storied history.

The previous encounters this season between the two sides point to Barcelona lifting the trophy. In La Liga, Barcelona triumphed 4-0 at the Santiago Bernabeu, and they later dominated to claim the Spanish Super Cup early this year.

While Madrid have shown improvement since those losses, it’s difficult to overlook the strength and momentum of Barcelona.

Prediction: Real Madrid 1-3 Barcelona

When and Where to Watch El Clasico LIVE? Broadcast and Streaming Details

The Copa del Rey 2024-25 Final between Real Madrid and Barcelona will take place at the La Cartuja Stadium in Seville, Spain. The match is set for April 27 at 1:30 am IST. It will be streamed online via FanCode website and app.

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