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Key occasions
“There are nonetheless no occasions for this match,” states the reside web page on the official Copa del Rey web site. Oh, you couldn’t be extra unsuitable.
So did Barney Ronay, in sometimes wonderful trend:
“Choose a card. Any card. No. Not that one. Wait. Preserve your eyes on the ball. The glass. Dangle on.”
Actual Madrid had been actually not superb in opposition to Arsenal within the Champions League a few weeks again.
Sid Lowe mirrored on their exit:
Groups
Actual Madrid’s Kylian Mbappé has to make do with a spot on the bench whereas the 18-year-old wunderkind, Pau Cubarsí, begins for Barcelona.
Actual Madrid: Courtois; Vázquez, Asencio, Rudiger, Mendy; Tchouaméni, Ceballos, Valverde, Bellingham; Rodrygo, Vinícius. Substitutes: Lunin, Gonzalez, Alaba, Mbappé, Modric, Guler, Endrick, Vallejo, Garcia, Brahim Díaz.
Barcelona: Szczesny; Koundé, Cubarsí, Iñigo Martínez, Martín; Pedri, De Jong, Olmo; Lamine Yamal, Raphinha, Ferran Torres. Substitutes: Ter Stegen, Araujo, Gavi, Ansu Fati, Iñaki, Torre, Christensen, Fermin, Victor, Eric, Fort.
What a sport that is shaping as much as be, by the best way.
Preamble
“Confronted by rumours in the previous few hours, we want to talk our staff has by no means proposed renouncing enjoying the ultimate,” Actual Madrid stated in an announcement launched late final night time earlier than this high-stakes encounter in opposition to Barcelona. “Our membership understands that the unlucky and inappropriate declarations made by the referees assigned to this sport, 24 hours earlier than the ultimate, can not stain a sporting occasion of worldwide significance.”
Hardly a serene buildup, then, however right here we’re. Actual’s affirmation that they’d grace us with their presence capped a day of uncertainty on Friday after the appointed referee, Ricardo de Burgos Bengoetxea, spoke of repeated criticism aimed toward him on Actual Madrid’s TV channel and by the membership’s followers. “When a baby goes to high school and other people inform him his father is a thief, it’s tousled,” he stated in a press convention.
Actual Madrid consequently cancelled the pre-match pleasantries in protest, however we do have a sport on, and it guarantees to be extra-spicy. Sid Lowe has the total story of that contentious buildup, and kick-off can be arising at 9pm UK time.
Vamos!
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