FC Barcelona V Sevilla FC
RFEF Copa del Rey: Final
Estadio Wanda Metropolitano, Madrid, Spain
Saturday, April 21st, 2018 3:15PM EST ESPNEWS
Welcome back to the Lewnau Sports Bureau! The European club season is coming to a climax and a close as the final month of May is right around the corner. That means its time for silverware! In countries such as Germany, France, and England, the domestic leagues have already been decided, with the same for Spain in the next week or two as Barca is all but assured their seventh Liga title over the past decade. And speaking of Futbol Club Barcelona, they will be squaring off against a Doctor jekyll and Mr Hyde-esque Sevilla in the Copa del Rey Final this Saturday! Thus, that’s where we’ll focus our attention this week as we gear up for the the big game.
Barca and Sevilla’s Kings’ Cup History
As no surprise, Barca has the edge over the Andalusian side when it comes to La Copa success, and it’s not even close! La Azulgrana has won a record 29 Copas del Rey, including each of the last three editions! In comparison, whilst Sevilla has had success in this tournament, they’ve won the Cup just a handful of times, with Los Rojiblancos’ last triumph coming in 2010.
These two clubs do have a bit of history squaring off in the final though. Just two years ago, Barca and Sevilla partook in a bit of wild final that included an early straight red to former Barca center back Javier Mascherano. One would have thought that with La Blaugrana down a man from the 36th minute on, Sevilla would have won this match. But, no! It was FCB that suffered and endured the Andalusian pressure, ultimately forcing extra time and winning the match 2-0 via goals from Jordi Alba and want away Neymar Jr. Therefore, perhaps this Final is just about winning the title for Sevilla, but also to get revenge for the recent defeat.
Players Expected to Dazzle
For FC Barcelona we must look no further than La Pulga, the Magician, the world’s best, Lionel Messi! The Argentine forward has been sensational once again this season. Currently with 29 goals in La Liga, Messi is on pace for a second consecutive Pichichi award for the La Liga top goalscorer. In addition, he leads the Spanish Premeira Division in assists with 12, three more than second placed Sisto from Celta Vigo. Thus, the magic man will be looked upon to score and set up his teammates, such as Luis Suarez, Philippe Coutinho, Ousmane Dembele, Jordi Alba, and more.
As for Sevilla, picking their Man of the Match is a little more complicated. That’s because this squad has produced some stellar performances, particularly in the Champions League as they reached the quarterfinal stage, but the Sevilliistas have also played plenty of eggs as indicative of their poor league ranking of seventh with an astounding total of 35 points adrift from first placed Barcelona. With that said, I must pick somebody, so I’m going with midfielder Steven N’Zoni. As I’ve featured him before in LSB’s UCL Player Profiles, N’Zonzi is probably Sevilla’s most dependable player. In addition, when he’s performing at his best, N’Zonzi can flat out boss the midfield, mitigating his opponent’s attacking success. This is precisely what Sevilla needs against Barcelona. Win the ball in the midfield, keep the pressure on Barcelona’s defense, and most importantly, keep the ball away from Messi’s phenomenal feet.
LSB Prediction
In the backdrop of Madrid, the brand new Wanda Metropolitano, home to Atletico Madrid, plays host to this sure to be fiesta affair between the Catalans and the Andalusians. No matter what happens in the Final however, one thing is certain, politics will provide a sub-plot of sorts to this match early and often. LaLiga President Javier Tebas has threatened to abandon the game if Catalan supporters whistle the Spanish national anthem. While only time will tell wether Barca’s Cules will indeed whistle the anthem, most likely they will, or wether Tebas actually follows through with his warning shot, Barca supporters will be wearing yellow inside the Wanda in support of Catalonia and the eight jailed members of the Catalan government that lead the charge for last year’s referendum vote.
Moving to the action on the pitch, Sevilla is seeking revenge for the 2016 defeat, playing for a title, and trying to earn themselves a Europa League slot for next season with the win. As for Barca, they are aiming for a fourth consecutive King’s Cup trophy, and essentially clinching another domestic league/cup double, as well as wanting nothing more than to hoist another trophy in Spain’s capitol of Madrid. Steven N’Zonzi, along with Messi’s international teammate Ever Banega, will try to stake claim to the midfield and subsequently the edge in ball possession. However, they’re efforts will ultimately not be enough as Barca’s rested midfielding core of Ivan Rakitic, Sergio Busquets, and Andreas Iniesta, will prove to be too much. And in the end, La Pulga will dazzle down the right flank, cutting inside at the edge of the 18 yard box and strike La Blaugrana ahead, with the heavyweights never looking back. The yellow clothed Cules will be in the ascendancy in Spain’s central city, whilst watching their beloved Barca hoist their record extending 25th Kings’ Cup! 3-1 FC Barcelona