The Spanish Football Federation have confirmed that this season’s Copa del Rey Final will be played at the Santiago Bernabeu on Friday May 17.
Finalists Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid attended a meeting today to determine the date and venue of the fixture.
Originally scheduled for the Saturday, the game has been moved to a 9.30pm local time kick-off on the Friday evening, to avoid broadcasting clashes on the Saturday with the Eurovision Song Contest and on the Sunday with the regular League games to be played.
Whilst Madrid were pushing for the Camp Nou as a neutral venue with maximum attendance, Atletico were reportedly asking for the game to be hosted in the capital and preferably at the Vicente Calderon.
RFEF secretary general Jorge Perez has determined, though, that the game will be held at Madrid’s Santiago Bernabeu.
“It is logical that the final is played in Madrid, at the stadium where the greatest number of fans can attend,” Perez is quoted as determining today.
The Bernabeu has hosted the Copa del Rey Final on 35 previous occasions, the most of any ground in Spain. The last time was the 2007 meeting between Sevilla and Getafe.
