Copa del Rey to feature El Clásico semifinal

The biggest game in Spanish soccer, El Clásico, is returning to the Copa del Rey. Monday’s draw for the semifinal of the Spanish cup competition pits Real Madrid and Barcelona in a two-legged tie.

The first of those games is tentatively scheduled for March 1. Then, the return leg at Camp Nou is tentatively scheduled for April 5. Therefore, there is a whole month in between the pair of El Clásico fixtures in the Copa del Rey. Interestingly, the two will be very familiar with one another for that month. In March, there is a game between Real Madrid and Barcelona in league play, where Barcelona holds a five-point edge entering February.

Additionally, Barcelona playing Real Madrid outside of the league is not a new occurrence. Just in January, Barcelona defeated Real Madrid in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in the final of the Supercopa de España.

Last season, the two played in the same competition, but in the semifinals, where Real Madrid used extra time to win and eventually go on to life the trophy. Also, this past summer, Allegiant Stadium hosted El Clásico for a friendly. Barcelona won that, 1-0.

Both clubs are on fine form this season. They lead the Spanish top flight, even if this game is of no consequence for that competition. Despite Barcelona plumetting to the Europa League, Real Madrid is still in the Champions League, as usual. However, the winner of this El Clásico certainly has an inside track to win the Copa del Rey. The other tie is Osasuna against Athletic Club, the teams seventh and eighth in the table at the time of the draw.

El Clásico coverage for the Copa del Rey

As is the case with most of the modern games between the two, fans in the United States can watch the upcoming Copa del Rey battles on ESPN+. There has not been an announcement on any TV details. Therefore, there is a chance that the game may air on ESPN or its affiliated channels, as it has in the past.

However, it is a guarantee that the game is available on ESPN+.

This is the first meeting for the two in the Copa del Rey since the 2018/19 semifinal. After tying the first leg in Barcelona, 1-1, the Catalan club won at the Santiago Bernabeu, 3-0.

PHOTO: IMAGO / Aflosport