El Clásico reaches its peak at the Camp Nou with the Copa del Rey

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The Clásico series arrives tonight at the fifth and last game at the Camp Nou (9:00 p.m., La 1).

The final point is more interesting than ever because both teams will fight to access the Cup final after traveling along parallel paths in the League and in the Champions League.

Barcelona dominates the championship with a 12-point advantage with 11 games to go and Madrid aspires to maintain its hegemony in a continental tournament from which the Catalans were eliminated for the second season in a row, including the Europa League.

The reunion is therefore a revenge for the madridistas, and by extension the possibility of competing for a title that is historically more linked to Barça, in the same way that the Barcelona fans yearn for a triplet —Supercopa,

There is no better way to combat a crisis of reputation from the point of view of Barcelona than to defeat Madrid.

And the white team gave up this season in three of the four duels against Barcelona.

The Catalans have won the Super Cup (1-3), the first leg of the Cup semifinals (0-1) and the League match at the Camp Nou (2-1) after losing the one at the Bernabéu (3-1).

Xavi's squad has overcome adversity, optimized its resources and capitalized on the emotional charge of the Camp Nou.

Although it declares itself impervious to the noise of the institution, the team has been psychologically strong and adaptable in football, now needing to face an appointment without Pedri, Dembélé, Christensen or De Jong.

"Our intention is to be in control and play to win and not draw despite the 0-1 in the first leg," Xavi announced, to later insist on Madrid's "favourite" status: "What is the last time you lost a playoff?

[in 2021 against Chelsea].

They have more pressure;

we feel confident.

We want double joy: reaching a final and beating Madrid”.

Ancelotti's team arrives better at the game than the last time they visited the Camp Nou.

"Tomorrow [for today] it's our turn to win," said the Italian coach, who has recovered his game and footballers -only Mendy is out-, has experience in demanding matches and intends to "complete a good match without going crazy to score and being attentive to details”, Ancelotti said.

The excellent form of Benzema, author of a hat-trick in six and a half minutes, and the strength of Rodrygo, as well as the recovery of Rüdiger increase Madrid's potential.

Barça appeals to the collective and its ability to adapt against Madrid since it opted for a fourth midfielder instead of a third striker — Raphinha and Dembélé played in October — and was able to have Araujo as a marker for Vinicius.

Barça will recreate precisely the scenery of the League match: there will be no mosaic, nor is lunch between boards planned and Florentino Pérez will surely be absent from the Camp Nou again.

In any case, no game arouses more expectation than the Clásico and the Cup game marks the end of the 2022-2023 series.

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