Barcelona and Real Madrid meet in Copa del Rey final

Barcelona and Real Madrid meet in the Copa del Rey final on Saturday with more than just the trophy on the line for the fierce Spanish rivals.

Barcelona want to grab the first piece of a potential treble of major titles in coach Hansi Flick’s debut season. The team is on pace to conquer La Liga, and three days after the cup final it will start its two-legged Champions League semifinal against Inter Milan.

It could also be the last trophy for Carlo Ancelotti, who many Madrid watchers speculate could leave the powerhouse this summer, possibly to take over the Brazil national team.

Madrid arguably has more at stake. Out of the Champions League, the cup is their best chance to salvage the campaign with some silverware. They are also alive in La Liga, but need to overhaul a four-point deficit to Barcelona with five games left — a home stretch that includes yet another clasico.

For Barcelona, a title won at the expense of Madrid would give them a huge momentum boost for Inter’s visit on Wednesday as the Catalan club pursues their first European Cup in a decade.

Barcelona dominated their other two meetings this season, beating Madrid 5-2 in the Spanish Super Cup final in January after winning 4-0 at Madrid in the league in October.

The third clasico of the season will be played before 70,000 fans in Seville’s La Cartuja Stadium, where King Felipe VI will award the trophy to the winners.

This is the first Copa del Rey final between Spain’s biggest clubs since 2014. Barcelona hold a record 31 Spanish cups. Madrid have 20, third place all time.

Flick’s biggest task will be filling in for the injured Robert Lewandowski, who picked up a left-thigh injury last weekend.

Sports