The historical precedent that excites Barcelona with another title against Real Madrid

FC Barcelona and Real Madrid will once again compete for an official title this season on Saturday, April 26, at La Cartuja. The Copa del Rey final is the second trophy that the culés and 'merengues' will define in a Clásico in the 2024-25, after the Supercopa de España final held in Arabia on January 12. At that time, the victory went to Hansi Flick's team, with a crushing 2-5 scoreline.

The goals from Lamine Yamal, Robert Lewandowski, Raphinha (double), and Alejandro Balde dashed the hopes of a Madrid team that had taken an early lead thanks to a goal from Kylian Mbappé in the 5th minute. However, before halftime, Barça turned it around with four goals, and in the 48th minute, Raphinha scored the fifth that sealed a historic thrashing that could have been much worse, were it not for the expulsion of Wojciech Szczesny in the 56th minute. Rodrygo Goes would score a consolation goal four minutes later.

Barça already won two Clásicos in finals in 1982-83

In this sense, the scenario of 2024-25 is similar to what the azulgranas and whites faced 42 years ago, in the final stretch of the 1982-83 season. The historical precedent excites Barça with the possibility of repeating what was done on that occasion, when the team then led by César Luis Menotti, who had the Argentine Diego Maradona as its main figure, achieved two titles from their biggest rival in a memorable June.

First, there was the Copa del Rey final. At La Romareda, Barcelona won 2-1, thanks to goals from Víctor Muñoz in the first half and Marcos Alonso in the 90th minute. Santillana had equalized for the 'merengues' in the 50th minute. That was the first Copa final in a Clásico resolved in favor of the Catalans, who at that time already had 20 trophies in their cabinets.

In the last week of June, the Copa de la Liga had to be decided, a tournament that debuted that season and was only held four times. The two-legged final was won by Barça with an aggregate score of 4-3, after drawing in the first leg at Santiago Bernabéu (2-2) and winning the return leg at Camp Nou (2-1). Maradona scored a goal in each match, while Lobo Carrasco and Alexanko scored the other two goals for the culés. Will Barça be able to repeat the feat of winning two finals against Madrid in the same season in 2025?

• ⚽Clásico record in Copa del Rey finals: Real Madrid 4-3 FC Barcelona.
• ⚽Clásico record in Copa de Liga finals: FC Barcelona 1-0 Real Madrid.
• ⚽Clásico record in Supercopa de España finals: Real Madrid 7-3 FC Barcelona.