Barcelona vs Real Madrid: Copa del Rey final will define trophies & trajectories

Any antipathy that Barcelona may have had for Real Madrid in the past does not preclude the fact that for years it seemed that they wanted to be them. Ruthless, serial winners, immune to failure. In the past few years that search has been fruitless.

But something changed this season. With Hansi Flick at the helm, Barca have rediscovered that sometimes football isn't just about the result but also about the importance and value of the journey.

The football is still ambitious. Flick has instilled a kind of emotional clarity, guiding a group of hungry, youthful players with the calm of a manager who knows that the desire to grow and the need to win need not be mutually exclusive. Against Mallorca at the weekend, even with seven changes and a depleted XI, Barca delivered their most statistically dominant performance in years - 40 shots on goal.

Only one went in, but what mattered was the general idea did not change - they all think the same in that team right now. With key starters like Frenkie de Jong, Jules Kounde, Pau Cubarsi and Raphinha rested, Flick effectively revealed his starting line-up for Saturday's final.

What makes this Barca different isn't just the tactical framework, it's the emotional one. Flick has shown an ability to manage expectations and egos with diplomacy.

When Ferran Torres, Hector Fort and Ansu Fati reacted poorly to being benched against Celta two games ago, Flick didn't scold - he started all three against Mallorca. It wasn't a punishment or a reward. It was a reminder, a statement of intent. The team is a place for responses, not reactions. In that gesture, he transformed disappointment with purpose.

With several core players fresh and a day more to prepare than their rivals, Barca travel to Seville without excuses. They know what's at stake, and perhaps more importantly, they know who they are again.

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