This year’s Copa del Rey finals is set to be tasty, very tasty indeed. It’s the ‘Derbi’ finale between Spain’s capital clubs Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid.
Atleti booked themselves a spot in this year’s Copa del Rey final with a 4-3 aggregate win over Sevilla and Real Madrid stormed their way past the Catalans to set up a Derbi day finale. All the ‘Derbi’ day drama will take place on May 17th, with the venue yet to be confirmed. And though Diego Simeone’s men are having an incredible season so far and sit in second place in the Liga table, 4 points ahead of Real Madrid they have failed miserably when it comes to the Madrid derby. Atleti have not beaten Madrid since 1999, but if they are to finally end their Derbi Day curse, what better time for it to come than in a cup final?
Speaking to Spanish national radio station, RNE’s Radiogaceta de los Deportes, Miguel Ángel López, the Spanish Football Federation’s match co-ordinator said that Friday May 17th is the most likely date for the fixture. He stated that this date is less likely to interfere with other games being played that weekend.
He also spoke about the reports that the two clubs had agreed to play the game at the Bernabeu.
López said: “The Federation wasn’t aware that Madrid and Atlético had reached an agreement to play at the Bernabéu.
“What would make sense, what everyone wants, is to play the game in the biggest stadium.”“If there is an agreement, the Federation will not go against it. If there hasn’t been, then the Federation is the one that decides where the final will be played. We have the last word. Everyone has been talking about this agreement but the Federation has no reliable record of this.
“It makes no sense that 50,000 fans that live in the same city would have to leave a city like Madrid, that is so central, to go to another city.”
He added that the RFEF did not mind if the final were to be played at the Bernabeu or the Calderon, as they were able to work well at both stadiums. However, he said that the Bernabeu’s total capacity made Madrid’s stadium a more favourable option, stating that it would be more logical that the game would be played in the biggest stadium because then more fans from both sides could then come.
“The Bernabeu can hold more than 80,000, while the Vicente Calderón holds approximately 55,000. It makes more sense that it is played in Madrid, given that both teams in the final are from Madrid.”
The two sides have come up against one another in the final of the competition four times before, with history favouring the Rojiblancos – who have won three of the four finals.