Copa another Clasico distraction

Real Madrid must be favourites to overcome their biggest rivals in the final of the Copa del Rey against Barcelona tonight, despite having lost in both La Liga Clasicos this season.

If they do triumph over the Catalans, however, victory will mean nothing if Los Blancos ultimately fail to deliver either the title or the Champions League to the Santiago Bernabeu trophy cabinet.

Similarly, having already been eliminated from the Champions League by Atletico Madrid, and with a four-point gap to make up in La Liga, victory in the Copa del Rey would be hollow and short-lived for Barcelona without bigger success, even though it would complete a hat-trick of Clasico wins for the season.

Carlo Ancelotti will be without Cristiano Ronaldo for the final in Valencia and, while he has a strong enough squad to compensate for the absence of the Portuguese talisman, the Italian will be aware that his side’s form has wobbled a little since Ronaldo picked up a hamstring injury in Madrid’s Champions League win against Borussia Dortmund.

For their part, Barcelona suffered a horrendous week with defeat at Granada rubbing salt into the wounds of their Champions League ousting. Lionel Messi, such a crucial factor in Barca’s success in recent years, was singled out for particular criticism in the defeat against Atletico, and was again accused of going missing as Barca failed to make any mark against the Andalusians.

Rumours have been rife that Tata Martino has lost the Barcelona dressing room and that he will not be at Camp Nou next season. While such allegations can only be confirmed at some future time with the benefit of hindsight, the Coach has spent the whole season fending off criticism for negative tactical and stylistic changes. Likewise, Messi’s mind is already said to be focused on achieving World Cup success with Argentina.

Barcelona scored a convincing win in the season’s first Clasico at Camp Nou in October, with goals from Neymar and Alexis Sanchez sealing victory despite a stoppage time consolation for Madrid from Jese Rodriguez.

The return last month saw Messi bag a hat-trick after Andres Iniesta had given Barca the lead. Karim Benzema scored brace and Ronaldo added a penalty as the Catalans edged it 4-3.

Both sides displayed defensive frailty in the latter encounter and it is in the same department that the Copa final could be won and lost. Barca’s central defensive pairing has been a bone of contention ever since last summer’s expected reinforcements failed to materialise.

Carles Puyol and the injured Gerard Pique are clearly missed. A makeshift backline without first-choice full-backs Dani Alves and Jordi Alba and with Sergio Busquets and Javier Mascherano in the centre was fielded against Granada and looked unconvincing at best.

As a Clasico, tonight’s final will no doubt provide the usual fireworks that always occur when these two clubs are pitched together. As an indicator of the season’s more crucial outcomes, however, it will be an irrelevance.

La Liga - Club News