Actual Madrid go into Saturday’s Copa del Rey remaining in opposition to Barcelona as underdogs.
Carlo Ancelotti’s males have suffered two heavy defeats by the hands of their Catalan rivals already this season – 4-0 within the league conflict on the Santiago Bernabeu and 5-2 within the Spanish Tremendous Cup – whereas they path table-toppers Barca by 4 factors in La Liga.
So, is it a foregone conclusion that the Blaugrana will make it three out of three?
Not essentially. Barca will not be infallible and we have now recognized 5 areas that, if Madrid can get proper, might show problematic for Hansi Flick and Co.
😍 ¡ESTÁ PRECIOSO!
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Power in midfield
Key to this, as traditional, is Federico Valverde. It appears probably that Ancelotti will drop one of many ‘Fab 4’, more than likely Rodrygo, and bolster the midfield space.
Aurelien Tchouameni and Dani Ceballos are advantageous gamers, as is veteran Luka Modric, however none of them possess the athleticism and vitality of Valverde.
There may be the plain temptation to play him at right-back to fight the specter of Raphinha however that limits his influence. Somewhat than merely being a spoiler, Ancelotti should play him in his pure place and let him free in opposition to the likes of Pedri and Frenkie de Jong.
Hey Jude, time to ship
Jude Bellingham earned a popularity as Madrid’s go-to man in his first season on the Santiago Bernabeu, the England midfielder constantly popping up with essential objectives.
He completed with 23 objectives and 13 assists in 43 video games in all competitions and performed a key position as Madrid landed a La Liga and Champions League double.
This season has not been as spectacular, for each membership and participant. He nonetheless has a really respectable 13 objectives and 13 assists in 46 appearances however has struggled to influence video games in latest weeks.
Probably working simply behind Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Jr offers him license to get ahead the place he is usually a hazard on the ground and within the air.
🛡️ @ToniRuediger
👊 @BellinghamJude pic.twitter.com/LQWAUX99lI— Actual Madrid C.F. 🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@realmadriden) April 24, 2025
Get at Barcelona’s inexperienced defence
If there’s one space wherein Madrid look robust, it’s assault.
In Mbappe and Vinicius Jr, the capital membership possess the tempo, trickery and eye for objective to hassle any defence.
And Barca’s isn’t rock-solid, even when at full energy. They’ve conceded 32 objectives in 33 La Liga video games, probably the most within the high 4 and greater than Twelfth-placed Getafe.
And with Alejandro Balde injured, it seems probably the comparatively inexperienced Gerard Martin will begin at left-back, subsequent to 18-year-old Pau Cubarsi.
Prior to the midweek 1-0 win over Real Mallorca, Barca had conceded three objectives in opposition to each Celta Vigo and Borussia Dortmund.
Exploit the absence of Lewandowski
There are a number of gamers Barcelona will be with out and it not have an effect on the energy of the line-up. Robert Lewandowski isn’t one among them.
The veteran Pole stays top-of-the-line quantity nines in world soccer, as proven by his report this season of 40 objectives in 48 video games.
His probably alternative, Ferran Torres, has proven himself to be an honest back-up however Barca’s principal risk is more likely to come within the form of Lamine Yamal and Raphinha.
Lewandowski’s absence means extra focus can go on trying to cease Barca’s wing wizards.
👉 R⚽DRYG⚽ 👈
🏆 Copa del Rey remaining 2022/23
✍️ @RodrygoGoes pic.twitter.com/E5h4JL4joY— Actual Madrid C.F. 🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@realmadriden) April 24, 2025
Madrid ‘simply discover a method’
In relation to getting it accomplished on the massive event, few can match Actual Madrid. There may be an aura about them, significantly in finals.
They’ve received the final 9 Champions League finals they’ve contested, not shedding since 1980-81, when the competitors was nonetheless often known as the European Cup.
They’ve performed in 5 FIFA Membership World Cup finals, and received all of them.
They’ve additionally received three of their final 4 Copa del Rey finals.
It’s a jaw-dropping report and, if channelled appropriately, all of the expertise gained alongside the best way by serial winners like Thibaut Courtois, Lucas Vazquez, Antonio Rudiger, Luka Modric, Vinicius Jr and Kylian Mbappe might show essential.
