![]() It could also take place at Mestalla again. If Madrid again denies a request to play at the Bernabeu, the final would likely happen at Atletico Madrid's Vicente Calderon Stadium, which isn't as modern and has a capacity of only 55,000, about 30,000 less than the Bernabeu. Last year, Madrid said the Bernabeu could not be used for the final between Barcelona and Athletic Bilbao because renovation work was needed at the stadium. "If that's the reason, the club needs to say it, it needs to explain itself." "Real Madrid is scared of seeing Barcelona lift the trophy," outspoken former Barcelona president Joan Gaspart told local media. When Real Madrid and Barcelona met in the 2014 final, it was played at Mestalla Stadium in Valencia. Real Madrid lost two Copa finals there - to Atletico Madrid in 2013 and to Deportivo La Coruna in 2002. ![]() The 1997 final was the last one Barcelona played at the Bernabeu. I will watch the game because I like football, it doesn't matter who wins it."Įarlier this season, Barcelona routed Real Madrid 4-0 at the Bernabeu in the Spanish league, a result that ignited a crisis that led to coach Rafa Benitez being replaced by Zidane. ![]() "To me it doesn't matter if Barcelona wins the final at the Bernabeu. "It's normal that Madrid fans don't want to see Barcelona win at the Bernabeu, and if you ask Barcelona fans, I'm sure that they wouldn't want to see Real Madrid winning at (the Camp Nou)," Madrid coach and former player Zinedine Zidane said Friday. Barcelona supporters filled the Bernabeu wearing their team's colors, and players lifted the trophy with the club's hymn being played loudly through the stadium's speakers. It's clear most Madrid fans don't want to see Barcelona winning a trophy in their stadium again, as happened in 1997 in the Copa del Rey final against Real Betis. The club says there hasn't been any official request from the Spanish soccer federation asking to play the final at its venue. Madrid hasn't officially made any comments about the subject, neither opposing the game at the Bernabeu nor saying it wouldn't have a problem with it. "We want to play in the stadium which has the best conditions and best logistics for a game of this magnitude." "We want to play in the biggest stadium possible, which will be good for our fans and for our rival's fans," Barcelona vice president Carles Vilarrubi said. But Real Madrid's past decisions, and silence on the issue so far, suggest it wants nothing to do with the final, in hope of avoiding the risk of seeing its biggest rival celebrating a title on its ground. MADRID (AP) - The rivalry between Real Madrid and Barcelona has spilled into the Copa del Rey final, a match in which Madrid isn't even playing.īarcelona will face Sevilla in the final in May, but the discussion in Spain is about whether Real Madrid will allow the game to be played at its Santiago Bernabeu Stadium or force officials to choose a different venue.īarcelona and Sevilla want the match at the Bernabeu, which is the biggest neutral ground, and would generate greater revenue.
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