Real Madrid will attempt to salvage at least one trophy from a disappointing season with victory over Barcelona in the Copa del Rey final, but they will not have Kylian Mbappe in the starting XI.
The France forward has been left on the bench for the showpiece in Seville, Mbappe having failed to fully recover from an ankle injury he suffered in Madrid’s Champions League tie with Arsenal.
Carlo Ancelotti indicated this week that Mbappe could be available to feature in the final, but he is clearly only fit enough to play a cameo role.
Mbappe, though, is not the only striker missing from the spectacle of a Clasico cup final.
Barcelona team news
Robert Lewandowski is unavailable for Barca because of a hamstring issue, meaning Ferran Torres leads the line.
Dani Olmo gets the nod ahead of Fermin Lopez and will play just ahead of midfielders Pedri and Frankie de Jong.
Barcelona: Szczesny; Kounde, Cubarsi, Martinez, Martin; Pedri, De Jong; Yamil, Olmo, Raphinha; Torres
Subs: Araujo, Christensen, Fati, Fort, Garcia, Gavi, Lopez, Pena, Ter-Stegen, Torre, Victor
Real Madrid team news
Vinicius Junior and Rodrygo play up front for Madrid with Mbappe not ready to start.
Mbappe missed Madrid’s last two league games, but Ancelotti said he “was doing everything to be ready to help the team” in the Copa final.
With the Copa Madrid’s last realistic chance of silverware, it will be interesting to see how early he is thrown into the game if Madrid need a goal.
Real Madrid: Courtois; Vazquez, Ascencio, Rédiger, Mendy; Valverde, Tchouameni, Ceballos; Bellingham; Vinicius, Rodrygo
Subs: Alaba, Diaz, Endrick, Fran, Garcia, Guler, Lunin, Mbappe, Madric, Vallejo
