The upcoming Copa del Rey final on Saturday marks the third and most crucial El Clasico showdown of the current season. Despite numerous opportunities for both teams, a clear pattern has emerged throughout the campaign: Barcelona`s undeniable dominance.
Hansi Flick`s squad hasn`t just won the two previous Clasicos this season; they`ve secured convincing victories in both encounters. These matches have highlighted Barcelona`s revival under their new coach. Flick has successfully integrated emerging talent like Lamine Yamal and, perhaps surprisingly to some, has brought out the best in key players such as Robert Lewandowski and Raphinha. Although Lewandowski, the club`s top scorer with 40 goals this season, is sidelined for the Copa del Rey final due to injury, other prominent players are expected to feature, ensuring Barcelona remains a strong contender on Saturday.
Conversely, the El Clasico fixtures this season have exposed unexpected weaknesses within the talented Real Madrid side. After securing La Liga and UEFA Champions League titles last season, the summer signing of Kylian Mbappe was anticipated to solidify their era of dominance. However, previous flaws seem to have impacted Real Madrid this campaign, leaving them at a disadvantage heading into the Copa del Rey final. Nevertheless, with significant silverware at stake, the upcoming match could potentially be a much closer contest than the earlier meetings.
Before the latest installment of football`s iconic rivalry, let`s revisit the previous Clasico encounters this season.October 26, 2024: Real Madrid 0, Barcelona 4
Barcelona had a robust start to the season, facing two key tests in late October: a Champions League tie against Bayern Munich on the 23rd and El Clasico three days later. They excelled in both, triumphing 4-1 against Bayern at home before a dominant 4-0 victory at the Santiago Bernabeu. This match perfectly illustrated Barcelona`s positive trajectory under Hansi Flick, featuring a brace from Lewandowski and goals from Yamal and Raphinha. Conversely, it highlighted Real Madrid`s struggles, with key players like Vinicius Junior and Mbappe failing to make an impact. Mbappe`s slow adaptation in Madrid was evident in this game, reflecting a less than positive initial reception, potentially indicated by recent fan reactions.
This significant victory also impacted the La Liga title race, establishing a six-point lead for Barcelona over Real Madrid at that point.January 12, 2025: Real Madrid 2, Barcelona 5
The teams met again in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, for the Spanish Super Cup final, where Barcelona again prevailed. Despite Mbappe opening the scoring for Madrid early on, Barcelona quickly responded, building a commanding 4-1 lead by halftime with goals from Yamal, Lewandowski, Raphinha, and Alejandro Balde. Raphinha added another goal after the interval, securing a sufficient lead even after Wojciech Szczesny received a red card in the 56th minute. Although Rodrygo converted the resulting free kick, it wasn`t enough to change the outcome of the match.
Looking Ahead: Future El Clasico Matches
Saturday`s Copa del Rey final elevates the stakes significantly due to the trophy on the line. This represents the first major piece of silverware available to either club this season, and potentially their only opportunity. Real Madrid isn`t leading the La Liga title race, and while Barcelona remains in contention for both the league and the Champions League, neither trophy is guaranteed at this point.
A final Clasico of the season is scheduled for May 11 in Barcelona. This match could be pivotal in the La Liga title race, as it takes place with only three league games remaining afterwards.
