Both sides scooped silverware the last time they took to the field, Barca winning a sixth La Liga title in the last eight years on Saturday and Sevilla defeating Liverpool to claim a third consecutive Europa League crown on Wednesday night. The two clubs will be desperate to add another trophy to their respective cabinet this weekend, with Barcelona looking for a record-extending 28th Copa del Rey and Sevilla their sixth of all-time.
The Blaugrana’s route to the final saw Villanovense, Espanyol, Athletic Club and Valencia all beaten in two-legged ties, with Sevilla overcoming Logrones, Real Betis, Mirandes and Celta Vigo. Both sides are fully deserving of their place in Sunday’s final, which is a repeat of the European Super Cup in August that ended in a thrilling 5-4 Barcelona victory.
A dreadful run which saw Luis Enrique’s men take just a single point from 12 in La Liga in March and April saw their grip on the championship loosen, but Barca won their last five league encounters – scoring 24 goals and conceding zero – to retain the title. The Catalans are therefore in good form ahead of the showpiece event at Atletico Madrid’s Vicente Calderon stadium, and are understandably rated as heavy favourites to triumph.
Sevilla’s top flight campaign was a little disappointing, Unai Emery’s charges ending the season in seventh place – 12 points behind Villarreal in fourth and the final Champions League qualification spot. Triumphing in Europe’s secondary continental club competition made up for their La Liga placing, however, with Sevilla becoming the first outfit in history to win the tournament three years in a row. Winning the Copa del Rey would turn 2015/16 into a superb season, with Emery continuing to attract praise and admirers from across Spain and the rest of Europe.
It will, however, be a big ask for Sevilla to defeat the Spanish champions, who are simply on another level to most of the teams on the continent when they hit top form. The odds on a 3-1 Barcelona victory look particularly tempting, with both teams likely to score in what could be an open and entertaining encounter in the capital.
Luis Suarez has had an incredible campaign, racking up an extraordinary total of 54 goals in 50 appearances in all competitions, and will almost certainly put the ball in the back of the net at least once more on Sunday evening. A more interesting – and potentially more lucrative – wager for first goalscorer could be either Kevin Gameiro or Ivan Rakitic, who are widely available at far longer odds than the likes of Suarez, Neymar and Lionel Messi. Another potential option is to support a draw at half-time and a Barcelona win at full-time, with Luis Enrique’s men often getting off to sluggish starts in recent weeks and only really pulling away from opponents in the second 45 minutes of matches.
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