Barcelona vs Real Madrid: Preview, predictions and lineups | OneFootball

For just the third time this century, Barcelona and Real Madrid face off in the Copa del Rey final.

The Clasico rivals meet in the competition's showpiece event in Seville after edging past Atletico Madrid and Real Sociedad respectively in the semi-finals.

There's plenty yet to be decided in Spain during the final month of the 2024/25 season, and Barca are gunning for their second piece of silverware in a potential quadruple this weekend. Hansi Flick's side steamrolled Los Blancos in the Supercopa final earlier this year after thrashing the La Liga holders in the first meeting of the season back in October.

These two unsurprisingly rank among the three most successful clubs in Copa del Rey history, although Barcelona have lifted the trophy 11 more times than the capital behemoths. Madrid last triumphed in 2023, a victory which arguably saved Carlo Ancelotti's job, while Barca haven't won the competition since 2021.

Here's 90min's preview of Saturday's final.

What time does Barcelona vs Real Madrid kick-off?

Barcelona vs Real Madrid head-to-head record (last five games)

Current form (all competitions)

How to watch Barcelona vs Real Madrid on TV - UK & US

Barcelona team news

Dani Olmo was Barcelona's midweek match-winner / Alex Caparros/GettyImages

Barcelona are set to be without a couple of key players in Robert Lewandowski and Alejandro Balde again on Saturday. However, Flick would've been encouraged by Hector Fort's performance in Balde's absence on Tuesday night, while Ferran Torres has been a reliable goalscorer for the Blaugrana this season.

Dani Olmo was the match-winner against Mallorca, and he'll keep his place over Fermin Lopez in the number ten position. Pedri and Frenkie de Jong complete a majestic midfield.

Pau Cubarsi will likely be preferred to Ronald Araujo, partnering Inigo Martinez, and Wojciech Szczesny deserves to keep his place over the returning Marc-Andre ter Stegen.

Marc Casado and Marc Bernal are sidelined for Barca.

Barcelona predicted lineup vs Real Madrid (4-2-3-1): Szczesny; Kounde, Cubarsi, Martinez, Fort; De Jong, Pedri; Yamal, Olmo, Raphinha; Torres.

Real Madrid team news

Eduardo Camavinga suffered another injury on Wednesday / Quality Sport Images/GettyImages

Eduardo Camavinga suffered another injury in the week, and there are fears that his season his over. He certainly won't play in the final.

David Alaba also picked up a knock against Getafe, but he's expected to travel to Seville. Antonio Rudiger will replace the Austrian in Ancelotti's XI.

Ferland Mendy is back in training and could be fit enough to start after more than a month out, while Kylian Mbappe will also be back in the Madrid team after shaking off an ankle injury.

Eder Militao and Dani Carvajal remain sidelined for Los Blancos.

Real Madrid predicted lineup vs Barcelona (4-2-3-1): Courtois; Valverde, Asencio, Rudiger, Mendy; Modric, Tchouameni; Rodrygo, Bellingham, Vinicius; Mbappe.

Barcelona vs Real Madrid score prediction

It's time for some Real Madrid redemption.

Barcelona have won the two meetings by a combined score of 9-2, but Flick's side aren't currently performing with the same intensity nor efficiency as they were earlier in the season. Moreover, the absences of Balde and Lewandowski are significant.

Madrid weren't able to make the most of the space Barca surrendered in behind in the first two matchups, but Mbappe and company should take advantage of Balde's injury. This is a team that's been written off after limping out of the Champions League, and they'll relish playing the role of the underdog here.

Let's back Los Blancos to edge a goal-fest.