The Spanish “Tournament of the KO” enters the final with a match that appears unbalanced at first appearance, but has always produced fantastic duels: Real Madrid against Osasuna, a very tough squad hoping to bring the Copa del Rey to Pamplona.
Real Madrid vs. Osasuna: a tougher match than it seems
It appears to be an uneven match. One squad is always looking to the top of the table, while the other, more often than not, is balancing between the hell of the Second Division and the bliss of remaining in the First Division. But Osasuna is much more than that; it is a club that has made life difficult for Real Madrid on numerous occasions.
Real Madrid reached the Copa del Rey final with practically no chance of winning the league, but with one eye on the Champions League match against Manchester City. Ancelotti’s men eliminated Barcelona in the second leg with a 4-0 thrashing, and are one of the few clubs that can boast, “you don’t play a final, you win it.” If Madrid wins the Copa del Rey, it will be their 20th trophy and they will be only three points behind Athletic Club Bilbao, the competition’s second-most successful club.
Osasuna, on the other hand, has had a calmer season than usual. In the middle of the standings, with the relegation zone far away and the European tournament positions not so far away. Arrasate’s men are struggling to battle for more than the middle of the table, but they still have the Copa del Rey. The Navarrese have never won a competition higher than the Second Division, with their best finish being runner-up in the Copa del Rey in 2005. Will they be able to achieve victory against the all-powerful Real Madrid?
Catch All the Football Action: Schedule, Venue, and Broadcast Guide
The Copa del Rey final will take place on Saturday, May 6 at 9:00 p.m. UK time. As with the semi-finals, BT Sport will be in charge of broadcasting it in the United Kingdom.
The final is played on a neutral field, as tradition demands. On this occasion, the teams will have to fly to Seville, where the La Cartuja Stadium will host the final. The Sevillian stadium has a contract with the Royal Spanish Football Federation, which has made it the venue for the final for the last four years.
How are the odds for the final?
According to the bookmakers, Real Madrid is the clear favorite to win. The Whites have an average odds of 1.25£, while Osasuna is at 4.20£. However, Osasuna is a team that doesn’t shy away from any opponent, so even though the odds are stacked against them, it promises to be a hard-fought match between the two clubs.
