Barcelona vs Real Madrid – Combined XI ahead of Copa del Rey final | OneFootball

Barcelona and Real Madrid meet this evening in the 2025 Copa del Rey final.

Spain’s superpowers boast 51 successes in the Copa del Rey between them and will do battle in Seville tonight. Barcelona are chasing a treble this season, while Real Madrid have not given up hope of a domestic double.

Ahead of the clash, we’ve picked our Barcelona and Real Madrid Combined XI.

Real Madrid vs Barcelona – El Clásico Combined XI

Goalkeeper: Thibaut Courtois – Real Madrid

Thibaut Courtois has an argument as the best goalkeeper in world football. The big Belgian is a towering presence with reach, reactions and a commanding presence inside his penalty area. Wojciech Szczesny has done well since being coaxed out of retirement to deputise for the injured Marc-André ter Stegen but Courtois is undoubtedly elite.

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Right-back: Jules Kounde – Barcelona

Right-back is a problem position for Real Madrid with Dani Carvajal sidelined with an ACL injury. Jules Kounde, in contrast, has nailed down the role at Barcelona. The Frenchman might prefer to play centrally but he continues to shine in a wider position. Kounde ranks in the top five La Liga players this season for touches, progressive passes and dribblers tackled.

Centre-back: Pau Cubarsi – Barcelona

La Masia is the epitome of a talent factory and its latest products have come to Barcelona’s aid in an uncertain economic climate. Pau Cubarsi might just be the best young defender in world football with the teenager already one of the first names on the team sheet. The precocious gifts of Lamine Yamal command the headlines but Cubarsi is every bit the wonderkid too. An incredible talent.

Centre-back: Antonio Rudiger – Real Madrid

Inigo Martinez’s exclusion is harsh amid a fine season, but Antonio Rudiger has matured into one of world football’s best centre-backs at Real Madrid.

The German is aggressive in his defensive work, quick across the ground, and relishes unsettling opposition forwards. Across the last two campaigns, he’s held together a patched-up Real Madrid backline.

Read – Fernando Redondo: Gentleman, scholar, and deep-lying playmaker supreme

Left-back: Fran Garcia – Real Madrid

Fran Garcia claims the left-back role in the battle of the understudies. With Ferland Mendy a doubt and Alejandro Balde ruled out, Garcia gets the nod ahead of Gerard Martin. After shining at Rayo Vallecano, he returned to Real Madrid in 2023 and is perhaps too talented to remain a squad player for too long. He’ll have a huge role tonight, up against the irresistible Lamine Yamal.

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Midfield: Federico Valverde – Real Madrid

The beating heart of the Real Madrid side and, quite easily, among the most complete players in the game. If Carlo Ancelotti has a concern, it’s often Valverde tasked with solving the issue. His endless energy, tenacity, and never-say-die attitude lift the level of those around him.

Midfield Pedri – Barcelona

The best midfielder in the world right now? It’s hard to argue otherwise. Pedri has been the driving force of Barcelona’s season with his press resistance and ball-carrying in tight spaces a real delight to watch. Regular montages of Pedri’s best bits circulate after almost every Barcelona game, with the 22-year-old the perfect example of what a Barcelona midfielder should be.

Midfield: Raphinha – Barcelona

After almost being ousted last summer, Raphinha is now the favourite for the Ballon d’Or. It’s been an astonishing transformation for the Brazilian who has helped inspire Barcelona’s treble pursuit. Raphinha has scored 30 goals in all competition, created 23 more, and delivered several ‘clutch’ moments for the Catalans. One of, if not the, best in world football this season.

Right-wing: Lamine Yamal – Barcelona

Lamine Yamal is doing things on a football pitch we’ve not seen from a 17-year-old before. He’s fearless, flamboyant, and oozes utter quality. The teen sensation has 14 goals in all competitions and leads La Liga for assists (12). Yamal is a future Ballon d’Or winner, of that we’re certain.

Left-wing: Vinicius Junior – Real Madrid

Vinicius might have been unhappy with his Ballon d’Or snub but the brilliant Brazilian took home FIFA’s The Best Men’s Player for 2024 and the UEFA Champions League Player of the Season. It was a haul earned by Vinicius, who is capable of changing the narrative of any game at his will. Barcelona are well aware of his capabilities, after a hat-trick in last season’s Supercopa final.

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Forward: Kylian Mbappe – Real Madrid

Robert Lewandowski’s absence means Kylian Mbappe leads the line.

It’s an indication of his quality that Mbappe has faced critics this season, despite scoring 33 goals in his debut season for a new club in a new league.

But then that’s the point. Mbappe is that good that above excellence is expected. A key role in Copa del Rey success will go some way to settling his standing in Spain.

Read – Iconic Performances: Messi lights up El Clasico with his first ever hat-trick

See more – Five of the most memorable El Clásico thrashings

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