The Spanish archrivals will be meeting again this season in a two-legged fixture for a place in the final of the competition.
Real Madrid and Barcelona will be renewing hostilities on Thursday in the Copa del Rey semifinals after defeating Atlético Madrid and Real Sociedad, respectively.
It will be the 252nd Madrid vs Barcelona clash ever played, with Los Blancos having recorded 100 victories, two more than Barcelona (98).
Carlo Ancelotti’s team will be seeking revenge after the Catalan giants defeated them in the Spanish Super Cup final (1-3) last January.
The current LaLiga and Champions League titleholders will try to add another title to their cabinet this year after they conquered the FIFA Club World Cup trophy in Morocco in February.
Xavi Hernández’s men, meanwhile, will try to forget their collapse in Europe against Manchester United with a good result at the Bernabéu that will allow them to play the second-leg match at home with guarantees of playing another final this campaign.
Madrid or Barça, who dominates in the Copa del Rey?
The Copa del Rey tournament has traditionally been considered the third most important title in a season for any of both clubs. The Champions League is seen as the No. 1 objective for either Madrid or Barcelona, then it’s LaLiga, and in the third position comes the Copa del Rey title.
Barcelona is the most successful club in the competition, with 31 titles, followed by Athletic Club, with 23, and Real Madrid with 19 titles.
The last time Els Blaugranes lifted the trophy was back in 2021, while Real haven’t been able to go all the way in the competition since 2014.
Although Xavi and probably many fans believe Real Madrid are the favorites due to the absences of Pedri, Dembélé, and Lewandowski, Barcelona defeated Real Madrid in three of their last four two-legged ties in the tournament.