The final of this year’s Copa del Rey looks likely to be played at either the Mestalla in Valencia or La Cartuja in Seville as the Santiago Bernabeu is ‘unavailble’, according to reports.
Finalists Barcelona and Athletic Bilbao both want the game, which takes place on May 30th, to be played in the Spanish capital because of the good transport links to the Spanish capital from both cities.
But according to various newspapers in Spain, Real president Florentino Perez is unwilling to have a final played at the ground between a Catalan and a Basque outfit.
According to Mundo Deportivo, Real Madrid will deny the use of their stadium as they plan to have the pitch relaid at the end of the campaign so the ground will be out of action by the time the final is played. AS claims that the 10-time Champions League holders want to use the stadium themselves should Real Madrid Castilla be involved in the Segunda B play-offs – which take place the same weekend as the Copa del Rey final.
The last time the final was played between Barcelona and Bilbao, in 2012, it was played in Madrid, but at the Vicente Calderon, as the Santiago Bernabeu was undergoing some renovations. With an AC/DC concert due to be held at Atletico’s ground this year, and Real seemingly making up any excuse to prevent Barcelona or Bilbao celebrating a trophy win on their ground, the final will have to be played elsewhere!
