Barcelona vs Real Madrid Set for El Clásico Showdown in 2025 Copa del Rey Final at Seville’s La Cartuja

Barcelona and Real Madrid to Clash in 2025 Copa del Rey Final

The Copa del Rey final is getting the firepower everyone hoped for — another classic showdown between Barcelona and Real Madrid. This match isn’t just your standard cup final. It’s the first El Clásico in this competition since 2014, and it’s landing right at Seville’s Estadio La Cartuja on April 26. The Spanish capital’s giants will be renewing a rivalry with enough history to fill libraries — this will be their 260th competitive meeting.

The stakes are huge for both sides. Barcelona comes in hot from a season of strong performances against Madrid. They’ve won both previous meetings this season, including a 5-2 thrashing in the Spanish Super Cup. That’s given them a psychological boost — and perhaps a bit of extra swagger heading into Seville.

Referee Sparks Controversy Ahead of the Big Game

But the drama this week isn’t just about the football. It’s also about the man in the middle. Referee Ricardo de Burgos Bengoetxea is set to officiate the final, but his appointment caused a real stir. Real Madrid’s club TV channel criticized the choice, and the referee fired right back, speaking openly about how criticism affects him. Madrid’s top brass didn’t take this lightly. Instead of staying silent, Real Madrid publicly snubbed their media duties before the match. They described themselves as filled with ‘unprecedented astonishment’ by how emotionally the referee had shared his feelings about the club’s reaction.

In the midst of this, Barcelona’s coach Hansi Flick jumped into the debate with a clear message. He said supporting referees against personal attacks isn’t negotiable. “It is our responsibility to protect all the people involved in the game,” Flick called out during a tense press conference. The message was clear: let’s focus on football, not sideshows, no matter how heated the rivalry gets.

If recent results are anything to go by, Barcelona might be slight favorites. To get to this final, they brushed aside Atlético Madrid with a commanding 5-0 scoreline over two legs. Meanwhile, Madrid had a much closer call — only scraping past Real Sociedad in extra time. And let’s not forget: across three games this season, Barcelona have scored nine goals against Los Blancos. That’s not just luck or a lucky bounce, that’s dominance.

Don’t expect any empty seats in La Cartuja — or anywhere fans gather to watch. The 9 p.m. GMT (10 p.m. local) kickoff means prime-time viewing. Global coverage means you can follow every minute whether you’re in Los Angeles, London, or Lagos, with ESPN+ showing the game in the US and Premier Sports 1 in the UK.

Whatever happens in Seville, this Cup final will be more than a game — it’s another unforgettable chapter in football’s fiercest rivalry. Who gets the bragging rights this time? Only the pitch can decide.