Key occasions
“There are still no events for this match,” states the reside web page at the respectable Copa del Rey website online. Oh, you couldn’t be extra flawed.
So did Barney Ronay, in generally superb style:
“Pick a card. Any card. No. Not that one. Wait. Keep your eyes on the ball. The glass. Hang on.”
Real Madrid have been in point of fact no longer excellent in opposition to Arsenal within the Champions League a few weeks again.
Sid Lowe mirrored on their go out:
Teams
Real Madrid’s Kylian Mbappé has to make do with a spot at the bench whilst the 18-year-old wunderkind, Pau Cubarsí, begins for Barcelona.
Real Madrid: Courtois; Vázquez, Asencio, Rudiger, Mendy; Tchouaméni, Ceballos, Valverde, Bellingham; Rodrygo, Vinícius. Substitutes: Lunin, Gonzalez, Alaba, Mbappé, Modric, Guler, Endrick, Vallejo, Garcia, Brahim Díaz.
Barcelona: Szczesny; Koundé, Cubarsí, Iñigo Martínez, Martín; Pedri, De Jong, Olmo; Lamine Yamal, Raphinha, Ferran Torres. Substitutes: Ter Stegen, Araujo, Gavi, Ansu Fati, Iñaki, Torre, Christensen, Fermin, Victor, Eric, Fort.
What a recreation that is shaping as much as be, via the way in which.
Preamble
“Faced by rumours in the last few hours, we wish to communicate our team has never proposed renouncing playing the final,” Real Madrid stated in a remark launched past due ultimate evening prior to this high-stakes stumble upon in opposition to Barcelona. “Our club understands that the unfortunate and inappropriate declarations made by the referees assigned to this game, 24 hours before the final, cannot stain a sporting event of global significance.”
Hardly a serene buildup, then, however right here we’re. Real’s affirmation that they might grace us with their presence capped an afternoon of uncertainty on Friday after the appointed referee, Ricardo de Burgos Bengoetxea, spoke of repeated complaint aimed toward him on Real Madrid’s TV channel and via the membership’s lovers. “When a child goes to school and people tell him his father is a thief, it’s messed up,” he stated in a press convention.
Real Madrid in consequence cancelled the pre-match pleasantries in protest, however we do have a recreation on, and it guarantees to be extra-spicy. Sid Lowe has the total tale of that contentious buildup, and kick-off will probably be arising at 9pm UK time.
Vamos!