The big day has finally arrived. Real Madrid meet Barcelona in the final of the Copa del Rey tonight at Mestalla, yet neither side can boast of perfect preparations ahead of the latest Clasico clash.
Madrid came out on top the last time the two teams faced each other in a final of the cup competition (in 2011, also at Valencia's stadium), 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.
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.
So will the 2011 clash have any effect on tonight's final? Can Madrid cope without Ronaldo? How will Barca put their problems behind them?
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