Barcelona and Real Madrid set up another 'Clasico' final

Barcelona and Real Madrid, who have eliminated Atletico Madrid and Real Sociedad in the semifinals, respectively, will meet in the final of the Copa del Rey for the 8th time in the history of the tournament.

The balance is slightly in favor of the 'Merengue' team, which has won the title four times against the Catalan team. This will be the first time that the 'Clasico' will define the crown at La Cartuja, after having played four times in Valencia and once at the Santiago Bernabeu, Vicente Calderon and La Romareda.

The first time they met was in the final of the Copa del Presidente de la Republica, less than a month before the start of the Civil War. Paco Bru's Real Madrid won 2-1 with goals by Eugenio and Lecue, which allowed a triumphant farewell to the legendary Ricardo Zamora.

Barcelona responded in the 1968 final of the Copa del Generalísimo with a 1-0 win at the Santiago Bernabeu thanks to an own goal by Fernando Zunzunegui at the start of the match, and in 1974 Madrid took revenge, this time at the Vicente Calderon, 4-0, a result that allowed them to avenge the 5-0 defeat in La Liga four months earlier in one of Johan Cruyff's most stellar nights.

The final was contested by Spanish players, given the ban on foreign players in the tournament, and Luis Molowny's team took revenge without Rinus Michels' men being able to prevent it. Carlos Santillana, Benito Rubinan, Ico Aguilar and Jose Martinez 'Pirri' sealed the victory.

Nine years later, at La Romareda, Barcelona, led by Argentine Cesar Luis Menotti, won 2-1, with Bernd Schuster and Diego Maradona in their ranks. Victor Muñoz and Santillana scored in a match that was evenly matched at the end, but was decided by a goal from Marcos Alonso.

Barcelona claimed another victory in 1990 at the Luis Casanova stadium, in the midst of the Quinta del Buitre. The team coached by Johan Cruyff won 2-0 against John Benjamin Toshack's team, with Guillermo Amor and Julio Salinas scoring a goal in each half.

The last two finals between the two teams have been played at Mestalla, with Madrid winning. In 2011, it was Cristiano who sealed the 1-0 win in extra time for Mourinho's team over Guardiola's, and in 2014, Gareth Bale's iconic run settled the match in favour of the team coached by Italian coach Carlo Ancelotti, after Bartra had cancelled out Di Maria's early goal.

Barcelona faces this new 'Clasico' ready to extend their lead at the top of the trophy cabinet, in which they accumulate 31 titles, 7 more than Athletic, and Madrid, aiming for their 21st crown.