The big day has finally arrived. Real Madrid meet Barcelona in the final of the Copa del Rey on Wednesday night at Mestalla, yet neither side can boast of perfect preparations ahead of the latest Clasico clash.
According to Real Madrid’s official website, Wednesday’s final will see the teams go head-to-head in a Copa del Rey final for the seventh time.
The two Spanish behemoths have three wins apiece in Copa finals against one another, with 2011’s triumph for Madrid the most recent of the six, but will be without their match-winner that night and finest footballer, Cristiano Ronaldo, in this game. Meanwhile, Carlo Ancelotti's side have already lost twice to Barca in the current campaign and have been generally disappointing against other top teams this term.
Jose Mourinho was in charge of the Whites that night in Valencia, as a thrilling tie that was full of chances somehow went 90 minutes without a breakthrough.
T
here were 10 of Spain’s World Cup-winning squad from the previous summer’s tournament in action, but it was the Portugal striker Ronaldo that had the last laugh.
Angel di Maria’s pin-point cross was nodded home powerfully by the former Manchester United man after 103 minutes, as We Are Madrid 10 remembered last year:
But Barca have problems of their own. Blighted by off-field issues in 2013-14, the Catalans come into this final following the worst week of their entire season after they were knocked out of the Champions League by Atletico Madrid and then all but conceded La Liga with a shock 1-0 loss at Granada on Saturday. The European exit was described by coach Gerardo Martino as a "failure", while defender Martin Montoya said the players were "pretty screwed up mentally" after their defeat in Andalucia.
The final is 50-50. Barca need to win in order to restore some morale, save their season and go into the final matches with renewed enthusiasm, while Madrid need the title to add extra energy for what lies ahead: the home straight in La Liga and the Champions League semi-finals.
The 2011 final shouldn't be too relevant because situations have changed, the two teams arrive in different conditions and the context isn't the same. Every game is played in a determined moment and the teams arrive in a certain shape. Both are eager to win on Wednesday and there is no clear favourite, so there is unlikely to be any real psychological advantage.
Having played at the same stadium and against the same rival could have generated a negative emotional anchoring which influences the present moment. Memories and past experiences are always present as we assess our reality but players, with the help of a good motivator or someone who can redirect those feelings and convert them into positive vibrations, have the freedom to decide their thoughts. They can choose between being anchored to the defeat three years ago or focusing on the here and now, studying the rival in the present moment and using all their skills (that are different to back then) and today's circumstances to reach their objective.
Hala Madrid
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