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Real Madrid’s European exit this season left a sour taste, particularly for striker Kylian Mbappé and coach Carlo Ancelotti, but a victory in the Copa del Rey final against Barcelona on Saturday could quickly lift the spirits of the club and its supporters.
Los Blancos suffered a 5-1 aggregate defeat to Arsenal in the Champions League quarter-finals earlier in April, while their archrivals, Barcelona, progressed to the semi-finals for the first time since 2019.
The Catalans are now dreaming of a potential quadruple, and Madrid may take as much pleasure in halting that pursuit as they would from lifting the trophy themselves.
Barcelona’s attacking football has powered them to the top spot in La Liga, four points clear of the defending champions, with only five matches left to play.
After two heavy losses to Barcelona in previous Clasicos this season—4-0 at home in La Liga and 5-2 in Saudi Arabia in the Spanish Super Cup final—Madrid need to deliver a solid performance in Seville.
If Ancelotti can find the right strategy to disrupt Barcelona’s rhythm, it would serve them well ahead of another Clásico on May 11 in the battle for the La Liga title.
Despite netting 33 goals across all competitions this season, Mbappé has become a focal point for critics, with some blaming him for Madrid’s disappointing campaign.
His appearance on the big screen at the Santiago Bernabéu last weekend even led to some whistles from fans, though, at Madrid, such criticism is often part of the package for high-profile players, with even Cristiano Ronaldo experiencing similar treatment.
Last year, Madrid celebrated a La Liga and Champions League double before adding Mbappé to their ranks, a player they had coveted for years.
However, Ancelotti has struggled to integrate Mbappé into the team without disrupting the squad’s balance, particularly when all four of his attacking stars—Mbappé, Vinícius Júnior, Jude Bellingham, and Rodrygo—are on the pitch together.
Ancelotti may opt for a different approach in the Copa del Rey final, especially after Barcelona scored a combined nine goals in their two encounters this season.
The Italian coach is widely expected to leave at the end of the season, despite having one year left on his contract, but lifting one or two more trophies could provide a fitting end to his second spell at the club.
Mbappé’s recent ankle injury could give Ancelotti the excuse to start the match without the French forward, keeping him as a dynamic option off the bench.
However, Mbappé was the only bright spot for Madrid in the January defeat in Saudi Arabia, scoring both of their goals, and leaving him out from the start could be too risky, especially with the weight of the game on Madrid’s shoulders.
Ancelotti confirmed on Tuesday that he expects Mbappé to be fit for the final, with the striker training on Thursday.
“We’ve changed our style of play a bit; we have players with different characteristics, and it’s been hard for us to find a balance,” Ancelotti said. “If we find that balance, we can win.”
Rodrygo is the most likely player to be benched if Ancelotti opts to add an extra midfielder to gain more control over the game.
Since the retirement of midfield maestro Toni Kroos last summer, Madrid have struggled to assert dominance in matches, while long-term injuries to Dani Carvajal, Éder Militão, and others have left the defence exposed.
With his future uncertain and the title at stake, Ancelotti may be tempted to abandon his usual “fantastic four” attacking setup in search of redemption for Madrid’s challenging season. This may be the only short-term solution, with the squad’s deeper issues requiring attention in the summer.
“We put in a lot of crosses, but this year we don’t have a Joselu, a born centre-forward up there,” said goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois after Madrid’s defeat to Arsenal.
The fact that Madrid boasts some of the most renowned forwards in the game, yet lacks a traditional target man like the former Stoke striker Joselu, reflects the team’s ongoing struggles.
The squad’s challenges must be addressed this summer, along with the question of Ancelotti’s future. However, for now, a win over Barcelona in any form would offer much-needed relief to a season that has fallen short of expectations.
