Out
of the Champions League and stumbling in Spain, Barcelona faces Real Madrid in
the Copa del Rey final in likely its best chance to win some silverware this
season. Madrid will be without the injured Cristiano Ronaldo, while Barcelona
arrives with its defense in tatters and Lionel Messi questioned for his recent
dip in form. Barcelona will be aiming to add to its record 26 cup titles.
Madrid is third on the all-time list, behind Athletic Bilbao, with 18. Here are
five things to know about Wednesday's Copa del Rey final at Mestalla Stadium in
Valencia: No Ronaldo For many Real Madrid fans, Cristiano Ronaldo's most
memorable goal was his extra-time header at Mestalla Stadium to edge Barcelona
1-0 in the 2011 Copa del Rey final. Madrid now returns to the same ground in a
rematch but must do so without their Ballon d'Or winner. Gareth Bale (L) of
Real Madrid takes on Jordi Alba of Barcelona during the La Liga match between
Real Madrid CF and FC Barcelona at the Bernabeu on March 23, 2014. Getty Images
Ronaldo has missed Madrid's last three games with a leg muscle injury on top of
an already sore left knee. That means the weight of Madrid's attack falls to
Gareth Bale, the Wales winger Madrid broke its own spending record on last
year. "We will be missing a player with incredible quality," Madrid
coach Carlo Ancelotti said. "But the team can play well. It will motivate
the rest." Messi Steps Up? It was only three weeks ago when Lionel Messi
left the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium with a hat trick that led Barcelona to a 4-3
victory, giving the Argentine a "clasico" record with 21 career goals
against Real Madrid. How quickly things change. Barcelona's elimination in the
Champions League and its loss in the Spanish league at Granada has put Messi
under unprecedented pressure after appearing lethargic. "If there is one
player we can't doubt, it's Messi," Barcelona captain Carles Puyol said.
"He has accustomed us to seeing him score three goals, so when he doesn't
score we are surprised." Casillas vs Pinto The Copa del Rey final is
special for all its players, but perhaps even more so for the two goalkeepers.
After losing his starting job in the Spanish league to Diego Lopez, Iker
Casillas has responded by helping Real Madrid reach the Champions League
semifinals and has not conceded a goal in the Copa del Rey through all eight
matches. "The team has played a great Copa del Rey and we want to put the
cherry on top tomorrow," Casillas said. "I don't put much in
Barcelona's last week and those two losses. Anything can happen." Jose
Pinto has played in Barcelona's net in three Copa del Rey finals, winning two.
Battered Backline Barcelona's defense has been gutted by injuries and will
likely be without center backs Gerard Pique, Marc Bartra and Carles Puyol. That
will leave Javier Mascherano as its only center back to keep Gareth Bale, Karim
Benzema, and Angel Di Maria in check. Barcelona coach Gerard Martino's move to
shift Sergio Busquets into defense and play Alex Song in midfield backfired in
the loss at Granada, so he may opt to play fullback Adriano alongside
Mascherano. "It doesn't create insecurity. The people we have are able to
play in defense and we have 200 percent confidence in them," Barcelona
midfielder Andres Iniesta said. "If you attack well, you defend well, and
you defend well if everyone is involved." Martino's Last Stand Winning the
Copa del Rey may be Barcelona coach Gerardo Martino's last chance to save his
job. The Barcelona-based sports papers have been calling for his firing after
consecutive games without a goal for the first time since 2008. "I don't
want to use (the Copa del Rey) to make up for what has happened in the other
competitions," Martino said. Despite leading Barcelona to two wins over
Real Madrid in the league this season, Martino has struggled to live up to the
legacy left by Pep Guardiola and Tito Vilanova. Guardiola won the first of his
14 titles at Mestalla Stadium when Barcelona won the 2009 Copa del Rey.
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