Actual Madrid go into Saturday’s Copa del Rey closing towards 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 usually are not infallible and we’ve got recognized 5 areas that, if Madrid can get proper, may show problematic for Hansi Flick and Co.
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Power in midfield
Key to this, as normal, is Federico Valverde. It appears probably that Ancelotti will drop one of many ‘Fab 4’, most definitely Rodrygo, and bolster the midfield space.
Aurelien Tchouameni and Dani Ceballos are high quality gamers, as is veteran Luka Modric, however none of them possess the athleticism and power of Valverde.
There’s the plain temptation to play him at right-back to fight the specter of Raphinha however that limits his influence. Reasonably than merely being a spoiler, Ancelotti should play him in his pure place and let him unfastened towards the likes of Pedri and Frenkie de Jong.
Hey Jude, time to ship
Jude Bellingham earned a fame as Madrid’s go-to man in his first season on the Santiago Bernabeu, the England midfielder constantly popping up with necessary targets.
He completed with 23 targets and 13 assists in 43 video games in all competitions and performed a key function 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 targets 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 provides him license to get ahead the place he could be 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 sturdy, it’s assault.
In Mbappe and Vinicius Jr, the capital membership possess the tempo, trickery and eye for aim to hassle any defence.
And Barca’s just isn’t rock-solid, even when at full power. They’ve conceded 32 targets in 33 La Liga video games, essentially the most within the prime 4 and greater than Twelfth-placed Getafe.
And with Alejandro Balde injured, it appears 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 targets towards each Celta Vigo and Borussia Dortmund.
Exploit the absence of Lewandowski
There are a number of gamers Barcelona could be with out and it not have an effect on the power of the line-up. Robert Lewandowski just isn’t considered one of them.
The veteran Pole stays probably the greatest quantity nines in world soccer, as proven by his report this season of 40 targets in 48 video games.
His probably alternative, Ferran Torres, has proven himself to be an honest back-up however Barca’s principal menace is prone to come within the form of Lamine Yamal and Raphinha.
Lewandowski’s absence means extra focus can go on making an attempt to cease Barca’s wing wizards.
👉 R⚽DRYG⚽ 👈
🏆 Copa del Rey closing 2022/23
✍️ @RodrygoGoes pic.twitter.com/E5h4JL4joY— Actual Madrid C.F. 🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@realmadriden) April 24, 2025
Madrid ‘simply discover a method’
With regards to getting it achieved on the large event, few can match Actual Madrid. There’s an aura about them, significantly in finals.
They’ve gained the final 9 Champions League finals they’ve contested, not dropping since 1980-81, when the competitors was nonetheless often called the European Cup.
They’ve performed in 5 FIFA Membership World Cup finals, and gained all of them.
They’ve additionally gained three of their final 4 Copa del Rey finals.
It’s a jaw-dropping report and, if channelled accurately, 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 may show essential.
