An "El Clásico in the desert" might lack the traditional romance of the Camp Nou or Bernabéu, but with a domestic trophy at stake against their greatest rival, the intensity remains unchanged
Barcelona head into the final eager to avenge their late-October defeat, carrying the momentum of a nine-game winning streak and five consecutive clean sheets. While Real Madrid’s form has been patchy since that autumn victory, leaving them now trailing Barça in the league, they will believe they hold the upper hand especially if an arriving Kylian Mbappe enters the field tomorrow.
Form is often forgotten in a final; for Barcelona, the goal is simple: right the wrongs of the past and claim the first trophy of their season.
Find out who we predicted for the line-up in tomorrow’s fixture:
GK: Joan García
He demonstrated exactly why he deserves Spain’s number-one shirt, or to be in the World Cup squad at least, with a commanding performance against his direct rival. He’ll aim to lock down that spot in the final where he is likely to be kept busy.
RB: Jules Koundé
His defensive discipline has improved significantly during this recent upturn in form; he is far more effective when he balances driving forward with maintaining a disciplined back line.
CB: Pau Cubarsí
He keeps his spot in the XI but will surely be relieved if Mbappé isn't fit for the final, especially after the struggle he faced against the striker last time out. Will have to improve his performance from the last outing against Madrid.
CB: Eric Garcia
After replacing Gerard Martín in the semi-final, he has made himself undroppable for this game. As the heartbeat of Barcelona’s buildup from deep, his elite distribution will again be the foundation of their attacking transitions.
LB: Alejandro Balde
He remains the superior option when fully fit. Given his experience, Gerard Martín is unlikely to start ahead of him for a match of this importance, especially competing against Rodrygo well in the past.
CM: Frenkie De Jong
Driven by the Dutchman’s dominance in the middle, Barça’s first half was sublime: a showcase of direct, devastating attacking football. His positioning and work off the ball seems to improve alongside Pedri in the middle.
CM: Pedri
Simple football is exactly what Pedri is all about, and he just makes it look so, so easy. His movement, passing and calmness show what a class act he really is.
AM: Fermín López
His semi-final performance further justified his place over Dani Olmo. Combined with his tireless off-the-ball contributions, he has surely done enough to retain his spot in the starting XI.
RW: Lamine Yamal
He was rested against Athletic, but the gravity of this fixture demands his inclusion. Having traded blows, metaphorically and literally, with several Madrid players in the last Clásico, he should expect a frosty reception and a physical battle.
ST: Ferran Torres
Although he found the net on Wednesday, he failed to truly seize the moment against a struggling Athletic side, especially as his teammates shone around him. He will be desperate to score again tomorrow, with Robert Lewandowski’s looming presence continuing to threaten his place in the starting XI.
LW: Raphinha
His two-goal masterclass against Athletic showed exactly why he deserves to be in the conversation for the world’s top individual honors. Now, he turns his sights toward Real Madrid, aiming for a repeat performance to settle an old score.