WHO: Barcelona vs Real Madrid
What: Spanish Cup del Rey
Where: LLUIS Olympic Stadium in Barcelona, Spain
when: Sunday at 4:15 GMT (14:15 GMT)
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Laliga leader Barcelona will hope to expand their lead to second-place Real Madrid when they meet on Sunday's top flight.
With only four domestic games in Spain, Barcelona's victory won the championship that Real Madrid won last season with one hand.
This will also win a dominance for the fierce rivals of the Catalan club.
Al Jazeera browsed all the conversation points and news ahead of the final El Clasico of the season.
Real Madrid's season was disastrous a few weeks ago, but their championship defense would be recovered if Carlo Ancelotti's side could finally beat Barcelona's opponents in Clasico on Sunday.
Real Madrid's victory will narrow the gap to one point in three games.
Madrid licked his wounds after the Arsenal Champions League quarterfinals and coach Ancelotti was ready to leave at the end of the season, but the main trophy in his hand might be OK.
Barcelona's European dream ended in Inter Milan on Tuesday, and there is no doubt that the spirit of the Spanish capital is bright.
With Barcelona's four times dream shattered by Inter, they could even classify the season as a success if Madrid defends their title.
The Catalans have won the Copa del Rey and the Spanish Super Cup, and they beat Real Madrid in the final to win the championship.
Barcelona was Real Madrid's 4-0 winner in the first El Clasico of the Laliga season in October.
Robert Lewandowski summoned two visitors earlier in the second half at the Santiago Bernabeu. Lamine Yamal and Raphinha completed the score.
Adding to the two Cup wins, Barcelona has won 12 goals in three matches so far.
Barcelona admitted only four, and Hansi Flick's side surpassed Madrid every time.
This is 3 ...🔥 pic.twitter.com/tfsqju069j
- Laliga English (@laligaen) May 9, 2025
"We will have a good opportunity and we have to be prepared - it's almost decisive," Ancelotti said.
Ancelotti reflects on the cup final in the overtime, which was “the competitiveness of the last game, we were very close to winning, and I don’t think we had to invent a lot of new things (tactically),” Ancelotti said.
“We have to try to play a serious game and we will do it with confidence in the world.
“Despite all our problems, the fact that we are here, it’s a beautiful thing to fight in this game.”
Last weekend's matchup against Celta Vigo Ancelotti also provided a rare start for Turkey's 20-year-old Arda Guler, who was impressed in the midfield, which provided the momentum of retired Toni Kroos last season as Madrid won Laliga and laliga and Champions League double.
Guler was impressed with the alternative in the Copa final, and Ancelotti could start this weekend at the Olympic Stadium.
"In Madrid, you have to suck it on the bench before you become the undisputed start of this team - Arda has a profile of a player who might be a Madrid starter," Ancelotti said.
"He sucked it on the bench and he wasn't angry, he's evolved...he's not the same Guller since last September."
Sunday's home defeat was not after the death of their title contenders, but would intensify the pressure on Flick's young, relatively inexperienced allegations.
“(We) have to keep going, we have five days to prepare and we want to win,” the German coach said after Milan lost one of the classic Champions League semifinals in history.
“(This failure) has to wake up hunger to win the championship, which is important to me.”
Barcelona traveled briefly on Thursday’s cross-city rival Espanyol before entertaining Villareal during the campaign next Sunday.
The season's finale brought Barcelona to Bilbao on May 25 to face the sports club, which was beaten by Manchester United on Thursday.
Real Entertainment Mallorca heads to Seville on Wednesday before Sunday.
Their final game of the season was Real Sociedad's home.
Barcelona defender Jules Kounde suffered a hamstring injury on Thursday.
Forward Robert Lewandowski returns to Mickey after a leg injury to return to the bench.
Goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny will be challenged by first-choice goalkeeper Marc-Andre Ter Stegen, who is back after a long-term injury.
Predicted Barcelona 11: szczesny; Eric, Cubersi, Martinez, Martin; Pedri (de Jong); Yamal, Olmo, Raphinha; Lewandowski
Eder Militao's Dani Carvajal was excluded for the rest of the season and was joined off the court by Eduardo Camavinga, Antonio Rudiger, Ferland Mendy and David Alaba.
However, Brazilian striker Rodrygo will recover from the disease.
Predicting Real Madrid 11: Courtyard Vazquez, Chotium, Assencia, Garcia; Valverde, Modric; Rodrygo, Bellingham, Vinicus; Mbappe