Heraldo de Madrid - Mbappe on Real Madrid bench for Clasico Copa del Rey final

NYSE - LSE

CMSD	0.04%	22.46	$
SCS	-0.61%	9.89	$
AZN	0.03%	69.57	$
RBGPF	100%	60.88	$
BCE	-1.66%	21.65	$
GSK	-0.19%	37.43	$
BCC	-0.61%	95.51	$
CMSC	-0%	22.33	$
NGG	-0.31%	72.04	$
JRI	1.1%	12.74	$
RIO	-1.87%	60.56	$
RELX	0.71%	53.55	$
VOD	0.43%	9.35	$
BTI	-0.95%	42.05	$
RYCEF	0.1%	10.16	$
BP	0.65%	29.19	$

Mbappe on Real Madrid bench for Clasico Copa del Rey final

SPORTS 26.04.2025

Mbappe on Real Madrid bench for Clasico Copa del Rey final / Photo: Josep LAGO - AFP

Real Madrid started Saturday's Copa del Rey final against rivals Barcelona with superstar Kylian Mbappe on the bench.

Text size:

France striker Mbappe suffered an ankle injury in his team's Champions League quarter-final defeat by Arsenal last week and had missed their last two La Liga matches.

Mbappe is Madrid's top goalscorer with 33 strikes across all competitions.

Madrid lined up with four midfielders, including Jude Bellingham, behind a strike partnership of Vinicius Junior and Rodrygo Goes.

Ferland Mendy started at left-back for Madrid after recovering from a hamstring injury that has kept him out for six weeks.

Hansi Flick selected the expected Barcelona side, with Ferran Torres in for injured top goalscorer Robert Lewandowski up front.

Gerard Martin played at left-back in the absence of Alejandro Balde, also sidelined through injury.

Flick opted for Dani Olmo in attacking midfield ahead of Fermin Lopez and Gavi, with teenage star Lamine Yamal and red-hot winger Raphinha on the flanks.

Goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen was on the bench after a long-term injury absence, with Wojciech Szczesny between the sticks.

Starting line-ups for the Copa del Rey final between Barcelona and Real Madrid at La Cartuja stadium in Seville on Saturday:

Barcelona (4-3-3)

Wojciech Szczesny; Jules Kounde, Pau Cubarsi, Inigo Martinez, Gerard Martin; Frenkie de Jong, Pedri Gonzalez, Dani Olmo; Lamine Yamal, Ferran Torres, Raphinha

Coach: Hansi Flick (GER)

Real Madrid (4-4-2)

Thibaut Courtois; Lucas Vazquez, Raul Asencio, Antonio Rudiger, Ferland Mendy; Aurelien Tchouameni, Federico Valverde, Dani Ceballos, Jude Bellingham; Rodrygo Goes, Vinicius Junior

Coach: Carlo Ancelotti (ITA)

Referee: Ricardo de Burgos Bengoetxea (ESP)

L.Herrero--HdM

Featured

Liverpool primed for Premier League title party

Liverpool are primed for a Premier League title party as they aim to seal a record-equalling 20th English top-flight crown against Tottenham at Anfield on Sunday.

Thunder sweep past Grizzlies in NBA playoffs, Cavs on brink

The Oklahoma City Thunder, fueled by 38 points from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, held off the Memphis Grizzlies 117-115 on Saturday to complete a 4-0 sweep in their NBA Western Conference playoff series and become the first team to reach the second round.

'What we live for': Kounde after winning Barca Copa del Rey final

Barcelona's Copa del Rey final hero Jules Kounde hailed his match-winning goal as the best of his career and said he was proud of his team after beating rivals Real Madrid on Saturday.

More McIlroy magic at PGA pairs event but Novak and Griffin lead

Rory McIlroy shrugged off a 90-minute storm delay and sank a 30-foot eagle putt to steal the show in Saturday's four-ball format third round of the PGA Zurich Classic.