Biggest story lines ahead of the Copa Del Rey

The World Game takes a look at five talking points ahead of Monday's Copa Del Rey

Copa Del Rey

Source: Getty Images

Make mine a double

Both sides are chasing their second trophy of the season. Sevilla are out to land a second title in five days after Wednesday night's comeback win over Liverpool earned them a third straight Europa League crown. Barca failed in Europe, unable to make it past the quarter-finals of the Champions League, but they pipped both Real and Atletico Madrid, the finalists in that competition, to the Primera Division title.

Clash of the cup kings

The Catalans have won the Copa del Rey a record 27 times, dwarfing Sevilla's total of five, three of which came in the first half of the 20th century. Sevilla's recent record in cup finals is incredible, though. Excluding the two-legged Supercopa, they have won their last seven, including five in the Europa League and its predecessor the UEFA Cup and two in the Copa del Rey.

Contrasting form

Despite their Europa League win, Sevilla's end-of-season form in the league was atrocious with seven defeats from their last nine games. Barca, in contrast, won their last five in La Liga with a staggering goal difference of plus 24. Form, as well as the fixture list given they have had four more days to prepare for the match than Sevilla, is definitely on the Catalans' side.

Barca power

Barcelona finished the La Liga season with a goal difference of plus 83, scoring 112 goals - an average of very nearly three a game - and conceding only 29. Sevilla's goal difference was plus one after they scored 51 and let in 50. It will take some performance for the underdogs to turn the tables on those sort of statistics.

The decider

Sevilla inflicted one of Barcelona's five league defeats with a 2-1 home win in October. Barca came from behind to win the return fixture by the same scoreline in February.


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Source: PA Sport



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