Tue Apr 01 20:00:00 UTC 2025: ## Madrid Derby and Catalan Clash to Decide Copa del Rey Finalists
**Madrid, Spain** – The Spanish Copa del Rey semifinals reach their climax this week with two blockbuster second-leg matches set to determine the finalists. Real Madrid and Barcelona, currently battling for La Liga supremacy, will temporarily shift their focus to the coveted cup competition.
On Tuesday, April 1st, Real Madrid will host Real Sociedad at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium. Real Madrid holds a narrow 1-0 advantage from the first leg, a match marred by racist abuse directed at Vinicius Junior. Carlo Ancelotti is expected to field a strong team, potentially including returning stars Vinicius Jr, Rodrygo, and Fede Valverde. Real Sociedad, however, will be without injured midfielder Brais Mendez but welcomes back Ander Barrenetxea from suspension.
Wednesday, April 2nd, sees a fiery Madrid derby as Atlético Madrid welcomes Barcelona to the Metropolitano Stadium. The first leg ended in a thrilling 4-4 draw, a rollercoaster encounter that saw both teams come back from two-goal deficits. Atlético’s top scorer in the competition, Julian Alvarez, will be key to their chances against Barcelona, who remain without injured midfielder Dani Olmo.
Both Barcelona and Real Madrid are aiming for a potential treble this season, encompassing La Liga, the Copa del Rey, and the UEFA Champions League. The winner of these two semi-final clashes will be one step closer to achieving that ambitious goal. The Copa del Rey final is scheduled for Seville on April 26th. Al Jazeera Sport will provide live text and photo commentary of both matches.
First Piper 