Barcelona vs Valencia
Copa del Rey Final 2018-19
Venue: Benito Villamarín Stadium
Date: Saturday, 25 May, 2019
Kick-off: 8pm BST, today
Barcelona are out to make up for their Champions League disappointment be securing a domestic double when they meet Valencia in tonight's Copa del Rey final.
Not many clubs can secure a league title and still have their season deemed a failure. But Barca could achieve that, with their stunning Champions League capitulation against Liverpool overshadowing their LaLiga triumph which saw them finish 11 points clear of second-placed Atletico Madrid.
Ernesto Valverde’s future at the Camp Nou is under scrutiny as a result, and defeat to Los Che this weekend could seal his fate.
This is a competition Barcelona have dominated, however, winning it more than any other club in Spain.
They are chasing a fifth consecutive triumph tonight, with Valencia in their first final in 11 years.
Barcelona vs Valencia team news
Luis Suarez will miss the final having undergone knee surgery days after his side’s 4-0 defeat to former side Liverpool.
The Uruguay international, who has 25 goals in 49 appearances this season, will have no role to play with doubts also over Ousmane Dembele, Arthur and Nelson Semedo.
Semedo was taken to hospital after a clash of heads in the final league game of the season against Eibar with the club confirming this week “his return to training will be monitored” ahead of the weekend.
Marc-Andre ter Stegen is still experiencing discomfort in his knee, with Jasper Cillessen Valverde's cup goalkeeper regardless.
Philppe Coutinho has returned to training however and will be in contention to start, along with Arturo Vidal with Arthur unlikely to be fit.
Ezequiel Garay meanwhile has returned to training for Valencia after his recent hamstring injury.
Barcelona: Cillessen; Sergi Roberto, Pique, Lenglet, Alba; Busquets, Rakitic, Vidal; Messi, Malcom, Coutinho
Valencia: Domenench; Wass, Gabriel, Garay, Gaya; Carlos Soler, Parejo, Kondogbia, Guedes; Rodrigo, Gameiro
Barcelona squad: Ter Stegen, Semedo, Pique, Rakitic, Sergio Busquets, Coutinho, Arthur, Luis Suarez, Messi, Dembele, Rafinha, Cillessen, Malcom, Lenglet, Murillo, Jordi Alba, Boateng, Sergi Roberto, Alena, Vidal, Umtiti, Vermaelen, Abel Ruiz, Inaki Pena, Perez
* Ter Stegen, Semedo, Coutinho, Arthur, Luis Suarez, Dembele, Rafinha and Boateng travel without medical clearance
Score prediction: Barcelona 2-1 Valencia
Despite their Europa League elimination at the hands of Arsenal, Valencia finished the season with real momentum, winning their last three games to secure Spain’s final Champions League space at the expense of Getafe.
A 2-2 draw at the Camp Nou in February that followed a 1-1 draw at the Mestalla in October will also give Los Che encouragement.
But such has been Barcelona’s domination of domestic football this season, you expect Valverde to win his fifth – and perhaps last – trophy as Barca coach.
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