Real Madrid will look for a trophy they haven’t won for almost a decade in the Copa del Rey final on Saturday (4:00 p.m.) against an Osasuna team that wants to make history with its first title.
The white team last won the Cup in 2014precisely with Carlo Ancelotti on the bench and will try to repeat the feat on Saturday at the Seville stadium of La Cartuja.
The trophy has become, along with the Champions League, a priority objective for the meringues to save the season in which Barcelona has the league title in hand, which could be confirmed next weekend.
“We have two weeks in which our season is decided since in the League it has been very difficult for us and the first assault is tomorrow,” said the Merengue side Dani Carvajal this Friday.
“We are focused on tomorrow’s game that can close a very beautiful circle of winning in two seasons everything that was possible to win at club level,” added Ancelotti.
Improve in defense
On Saturday at La Cartuja, Real Madrid will have to try to remedy their defensive weakness, which led them to concede eight goals in their last four games.
On the other hand, the white team continues to arrive with danger up front with the couple formed by Karim Benzema and Vinícius Júnior, in addition to the good moment in form of Rodrygo.
Ancelotti will be able to count on practically his entire squad, although he remains in doubt about Luka Modric, who is coming off a muscle injury.
“Yesterday (Thursday) he trained very well, without problems, today he will do it again and together with him we will evaluate whether to start him. If he feels good he is going to play,” Ancelotti said.
Lift the Copa del Rey for the 20th time It would mean for the meringues, in addition, an injection of morale for the important first leg of the Champions League semifinals on Tuesday against Manchester City.
In front will be a complicated Osasunawho seeks to win his first Copa del Rey on his second occasion in a final almost 20 years later.
The rojillo team had not reached a final since 2005 when they lost 2-1 against Betis after extra time.
Bother Real Madrid
On Saturday he will try to surprise Real Madrid, in a season in which the team is in good shape, tenth in LaLiga and still with European aspirations.
Osasuna arrives in Seville after losing practically at the bell against Barcelona (1-0) on Tuesday, but after a great display of defensive resistance that should put Real Madrid on guard.
“We have to make Real Madrid uncomfortable because if we leave them space, the chances are reduced. The main thing is that they are not comfortable,” Osasunista coach Jagoba Arrasate said at a press conference this Friday.
Until now “we haven’t been able to beat Real Madrid, but we have to be brave, bring the essence of Osasuna to its maximum splendour”, he added.
The rojillo team, which reserved several of its figures in that match, trusts for this game in the good moment of its young Moroccan midfielder Ez Abde, on loan from Barcelona, and its goalkeeper Sergio Herrera, one of the fewest goals scored in the championship Spanish.
The Navarrese team also has its Argentine striker Ezequiel ‘Chimy’ Ávila available, recovered from his muscular injury.
