Barcelona's youthful squad gears up for a high-stakes showdown against Real Madrid in Saturday's Copa del Rey final, with coach Hansi Flick urging his team to embrace the moment. The Catalans, fresh off a Spanish Super Cup victory over their rivals earlier this year, aim to edge closer to an unprecedented quadruple trophy haul this season.
Flick's side, bolstered by 17-year-old prodigy Lamine Yamal and academy talents like Pau Cubarsi and Gavi, has already secured two dominant wins against Madrid this campaign. However, the German tactician emphasized the unpredictability of finals: "It's not about favorites. We want to fight for this title," he stated during Friday's press conference.
Barcelona captain Ronald Araujo praised the composure of the club's young stars: "These kids from La Masia have no fear. Their mentality surprises even me," he remarked, highlighting the confidence of the team's academy graduates.
Madrid enters the Seville clash under pressure, having been eliminated from the UEFA Champions League by Arsenal and trailing Barcelona by four points in La Liga. The match revives Europe's most storied football rivalry, blending Barcelona's emerging talent against Madrid's quest for redemption.
