Barcelona set sights on three titles ahead of Copa del Rey final

BARCELONA, Spain (AP):

Barcelona and Real Madrid meet in the Copa del Rey final today with more than just the trophy on the line.

Barcelona want to grab the first piece of a potential treble of major titles in coach Hansi Flick’s debut season. The team is on pace to conquer La Liga, and three days after the cup final they will start their two-leg Champions League semi-final against Inter Milan.

“We want to fight for every title we can and we now have the opportunity to win thee titles, and that is our goal,” Flick said yesterday.

It could also be the last trophy for Carlo Ancelotti, who many Madrid watchers speculate could leave the powerhouse club this summer, possibly to take over Brazil.

Madrid arguably have more at stake. Out of the Champions League, the cup is their best chance to salvage the campaign with some silverware. They are also alive in La Liga, but need to overhaul a four-point deficit to Barcelona with five games left, a finale that includes yet another clasico.

For Barcelona, a title won at the expense of Madrid would give them a huge momentum boost for Inter’s visit on Wednesday as the Catalan club pursues its first European Cup in a decade.

5-2 WIN

Barcelona dominated their other two meetings this season, beating Madrid 5-2 in the Spanish Super Cup final in January after winning 4-0 at Madrid in the league in October.

The third clasico of the season will be played before 70,000 spectators in Seville’s La Cartuja Stadium, where King Felipe VI will award the trophy to the winners.

This is the first Copa del Rey final between Spain’s biggest clubs since 2014. Barcelona hold a record 31 Spanish cups. Madrid have 20, third place all time.

Flick’s biggest task will be filling in for the injured Robert Lewandowski, who picked up a left-thigh injury last weekend. The Poland striker is producing another stellar season with a team-high 40 goals across all competitions.

Ferran Torres is likely to start in his place. The versatile forward has emerged as Barcelona’s super-sub in this campaign. He has netted 17 goals overall in limited minutes, including five in the cup. Another option, however, could be playing attacking midfielder Dani Olmo as a “false nine” flanked by Lamine Yamal and Raphinha.

Barcelona will also be without starting left back Alejandro Balde. Youth player Gerard Martin is likely to take his place unless Flick wants to slot in a more-experienced player.

Mbappé’s moment?

Finishing the season without a trophy would be a major disappointment after Madrid brought in superstar Kylian Mbappé last summer.

The France striker has scored goals galore, but has failed to produce big in the biggest games. He was jeered when substituted late in the second of two losses to Arsenal in the Champions League quarterfinals.

Vinícius Júnior has seen his productivity in attack fade ever since he felt overlooked in the Ballon d’Or award selection earlier this season. But the Brazil forward has previously risen to the occasion in finals.

Midfielder Eduardo Camavinga injured a tendon this week and will miss the rest of the season, joining Madrid’s long-term casualty list that includes defenders Dani Carvajal and Eder Militao.

Madrid’s main task in defence will be keeping Yamal and Raphinha in check after both ran rampant in the previous clasicos.