The futures of Real Madrid`s season and Barcelona`s pursuit of a treble hang precariously as the two football giants prepare to clash in the Copa del Rey final this Saturday. With the season reaching its critical final stages and fixtures coming thick and fast, both squads are grappling with significant injury concerns that will inevitably influence their tactical setups for this high-stakes encounter. Barcelona will be without crucial players Alejandro Balde and their prolific striker Robert Lewandowski, while Real Madrid has recently added David Alaba and Eduardo Camavinga to their injury list.
Both managers have navigated numerous injury crises throughout the season while striving to maximize their teams` performance. Now, with silverware on the line, their selection and tactical decisions will carry even greater weight. We recently saw how Barcelona might fare without Lewandowski in their 1-0 victory over Mallorca. Despite taking an impressive 40 shots during the match, Hansi Flick`s side lacked clinical finishing. However, with key attackers like Raphinha rested for that game, this finishing issue might not be a major worry. One particularly promising aspect of the Mallorca match was the dynamic interplay observed between Dani Olmo and Ferran Torres.
It was often difficult for defenders to distinguish who was playing as the central striker and who was operating in a deeper midfield role, as their fluid movement kept the opposition guessing about their positioning. When you add the pace and creativity of Lamine Yamal and Raphinha to this attacking mix, it could present a significant challenge for Real Madrid`s already depleted defense to contain. Anchoring the midfield, Pedri is enjoying a superb season, dictating the tempo of the game, and this area will require particular attention from Real Madrid.
Federico Valverde will likely be tasked with monitoring Pedri`s influence, but the absence of Eduardo Camavinga is a significant blow for Real Madrid. Camavinga`s versatility, allowing him to cover midfield and defensive positions, makes him a vital component of Madrid`s setup. However, this cup final will likely see the return of Luka Modric to the starting eleven. Having been fully rested during the week, the experienced 39-year-old Croatian maestro will be fresh and ready precisely when his team needs his composure and creativity the most.
Even as players like Camavinga and Aurelien Tchouameni were seemingly being groomed to eventually take over from Modric, he continues to defy expectations, featuring in 30 league matches for Los Blancos this season. His experience will be crucial in Real Madrid`s push for this trophy, but the key returnee in attack is undoubtedly Kylian Mbappe.
Mbappe`s arrival was anticipated to usher in a new era of relentless trophy accumulation for Real Madrid. However, it has arguably introduced a degree of imbalance to the attack at times. While he has certainly had periods of prolific goalscoring, the overall attacking synergy hasn`t fully clicked on the biggest European stages yet. Given Barcelona`s tendency to play a high defensive line designed to catch forwards offside, Mbappe is a player particularly susceptible to this tactic. Therefore, how effectively he manages his runs and coordinates with Jude Bellingham and Vinicius Junior operating around him could be a decisive factor in determining the winner of this final.
Looking at the overall picture, Barcelona seems to have a slight edge in their quest for the treble. This is by no means a guarantee that Real Madrid cannot win, but they will certainly need to deliver a much-improved attacking performance compared to their recent outing against Arsenal.
Predicted Lineups
Barcelona: Wojciech Szczesny, Jules Kounde, Ronald Araujo, Pau Cubarsi, Inigo Martinez, Pedri, Gavi, Lamine Yamal, Dani Olmo, Raphinha, Ferran Torres
Real Madrid: Thibaut Courtois, Francisco Garcia, Antonio Rudiger, Raul Asencio, Lucas Vazquez, Jude Bellingham, Federico Valverde, Luka Modric, Rodrygo, Vinicius Junior, Kylian Mbappe
