Cristiano Ronaldo has been ruled out of today’s Copa del Rey final against Barcelona. The game, which will be televised live in the United States on ESPN and ESPN Deportes at 3pm ET, should be yet another intense encounter between the two Spanish giants.
With Ronaldo not being available due to injury, there have been a lot of questions arising about what tactics Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti will use in the game. Ronaldo is already considered touch-and-go for Real Madrid’s UEFA Champions League semi-final first-leg showdown with reigning champions Bayern Munich next week because of a hamstring strain that saw him on the bench against Borussia Dortmund in the quarter final second-leg. And Madrid never look the same side when Ronaldo doesn’t play.
The Catalans will be thrilled that it is Ronaldo and not Messi, who has been ruled out for the battle at the Mestalla Stadium today.
In regards to coverage plans on ESPN, both Ian Darke and Steve McManaman will be at the stadium providing the live match commentary.
ESPN Deportes, meanwhile, will feature play-by-play commentator Fernando Palomo alongside Jose “Tato” Noriega and pitch-side reporter Martin Ainstein.
In addition to the Copa del Rey final being televised live in the US on ESPN and ESPN Deportes, English-language and Spanish-language commentaries will be available on WatchESPN.com too.
