For all their dominance of Spanish football, Real Madrid and Barcelona haven’t been the pre-eminent forces of recent times in the Spain’s domestic cup competition, the Copa del Rey. The tournament, which draws sides from Spain’s top six divisions, most of them regional, has had seven different winners in the past seven years since Barcelona won four times in succession between 2015-18.
Valencia, Real Sociedad, Real Betis, Real Madrid and Athletic Club have all won the trophy since 2018 and for fans of all those clubs apart from Madrid, it was the best moment of their recent history, a huge deal.
Barcelona have won the Spanish cup 31 times, more than any other team, but it’s the Basques of Athletic Club in second place with 24, then Real Madrid with 20.
Athletic Club are the current holders and their win last year saw their first trophy since 1984, but Saturday’s 2025 final is between Barcelona and Real Madrid at Seville’s recently expanded 72,000-seater Cartuja stadium, with its athletics track removed for more seats and a better atmosphere.
It’s 11 years since Real Madrid last won the Copa del Rey – against Barcelona – the winning goal coming when substitute Gareth Bale ran at such speed – and at times off the pitch – to get past Marc Bartra to score the winner. It was heralded as a great goal. In 2011, also in Valencia, Cristiano Ronaldo’s extra-time winner for an ultra-defensive Madrid broke Barcelona’s dominance under Pep Guardiola.
In 2025, Barcelona are La Liga leaders and could win a quadruple; Madrid are second and could still win a league-and-cup double. Preventing their greatest rivals winning either trophy would almost be as significant as winning the trophy in itself. Barca are ascendant, Madrid set for change and it’s likely to be the last final which Carlo Ancelotti heads into as Madrid boss. He’s set to depart at the end of the season, and that suits both the coach and his club.
For his opposite number Hansi Flick, it’s a chance of a second trophy after January’s Spanish Super Cup win in Riyadh. The German is enjoying a superb season and his side are favourites to win the Copa del Rey. They’ve easily beaten Madrid twice this season, winning 4-0 and 5-1. The Barcelona clasico is on May 11, sure to be pivotal in deciding the league.
Madrid are down, but they’re still Real Madrid and they’re not out. They still boast Kylian Mbappe, Fede Valverde, Vinicius Jr. They could play defensively and still hit any team in the world on the counterattack, but they’re out of the Uefa Champions League, the competition they have long dominated. So high are expectations, this is considered a failure at the Bernabeu.
Full-back Alejandro Balde and striker Robert Lewandowski are out for Barcelona, and likely to be replaced by Ferran Torres up front and Hector Fort, a right-back playing on the left. For Madrid, Eduardo Camavinga and David Alaba are set to be out together with long-term absentee Dani Carvajal.
Both clubs have sold their full 26,000 ticket allocation, and despite the enmity between the two clubs trouble is also rare between fans. Barcelona fans will travel by coach (€136), which takes 10 hours or train (€265), which takes six. It’s less than half that for Madrid fans. Match tickets cost between €95 and €240.
Barcelona reached the final after a 4-0 win at fourth-tier Barbastro, a 5-1 home win against Real Betis followed by another five-goal win in the last eight, at Valencia. Barcelona scored yet another five over two legs in the semi-final against Atletico Madrid, winning 5-4- on aggregate. The first leg of that game was wild, with Atletico surging into a 2-0 lead inside six minutes before Barca came back to lead 4-2 – only for Atletico to draw level after two goals in the last seven minutes.
Real Madrid were not averse to hitting teams for five themselves, winning 5-0 at fourth-tier Minera, then again in a 5-2 extra-time triumph against Celta Vigo. Madrid defeated neighbours Leganes 3-2 away in the last eight before their own 5-4 semi-final win over two legs against Real Sociedad. Interest was high, with both semi-finals seeing sell-out crowds. It will be even higher for the final.
Islamophobia definition
A widely accepted definition was made by the All Party Parliamentary Group on British Muslims in 2019: “Islamophobia is rooted in racism and is a type of racism that targets expressions of Muslimness or perceived Muslimness.” It further defines it as “inciting hatred or violence against Muslims”.
Timeline
2012-2015
The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East
May 2017
The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts
September 2021
Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act
October 2021
Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence
December 2024
Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group
May 2025
The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan
July 2025
The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan
August 2025
Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision
October 2025
Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange
November 2025
180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
LOVE%20AGAIN
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Groom and Two Brides
Director: Elie Semaan
Starring: Abdullah Boushehri, Laila Abdallah, Lulwa Almulla
Rating: 3/5
SQUADS
Pakistan: Sarfraz Ahmed (capt), Azhar Ali, Shan Masood, Sami Aslam, Babar Azam, Asad Shafiq, Haris Sohail, Usman Salahuddin, Yasir Shah, Mohammad Asghar, Bilal Asif, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Amir, Hasan Ali, Mohammad Abbas, Wahab Riaz
Sri Lanka: Dinesh Chandimal (capt), Lahiru Thirimanne (vice-capt), Dimuth Karunaratne, Kaushal Silva, Kusal Mendis, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Roshen Silva, Niroshan Dickwella, Rangana Herath, Lakshan Sandakan, Dilruwan Perera, Suranga Lakmal, Nuwan Pradeep, Vishwa Fernando, Lahiru Gamage
Umpires: Ian Gould (ENG) and Nigel Llong (ENG)
TV umpire: Richard Kettleborough (ENG)
ICC match referee: Andy Pycroft (ZIM)
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
Price: From Dh98,800
Available: Now
Profile of Foodics
Founders: Ahmad AlZaini and Mosab AlOthmani
Based: Riyadh
Sector: Software
Employees: 150
Amount raised: $8m through seed and Series A - Series B raise ongoing
Funders: Raed Advanced Investment Co, Al-Riyadh Al Walid Investment Co, 500 Falcons, SWM Investment, AlShoaibah SPV, Faith Capital, Technology Investments Co, Savour Holding, Future Resources, Derayah Custody Co.
BMW%20M4%20Competition
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ASSASSIN'S%20CREED%20MIRAGE
%3Cp%3E%0DDeveloper%3A%20Ubisoft%20Bordeaux%0D%3Cbr%3EPublisher%3A%20Ubisoft%0D%3Cbr%3EConsoles%3A%20PlayStation%204%26amp%3B5%2C%20PC%20and%20Xbox%20Series%20S%26amp%3BX%0D%3Cbr%3ERating%3A%203.5%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
COMPANY%20PROFILE
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EName%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESmartCrowd%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2018%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounder%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESiddiq%20Farid%20and%20Musfique%20Ahmed%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EDubai%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFinTech%20%2F%20PropTech%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInitial%20investment%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E%24650%2C000%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ECurrent%20number%20of%20staff%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2035%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestment%20stage%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESeries%20A%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EVarious%20institutional%20investors%20and%20notable%20angel%20investors%20(500%20MENA%2C%20Shurooq%2C%20Mada%2C%20Seedstar%2C%20Tricap)%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Draw:
Group A: Egypt, DR Congo, Uganda, Zimbabwe
Group B: Nigeria, Guinea, Madagascar, Burundi
Group C: Senegal, Algeria, Kenya, Tanzania
Group D: Morocco, Ivory Coast, South Africa, Namibia
Group E: Tunisia, Mali, Mauritania, Angola
Group F: Cameroon, Ghana, Benin, Guinea-Bissau
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm
Transmission: 9-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh117,059
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Which honey takes your fancy?
Al Ghaf Honey
The Al Ghaf tree is a local desert tree which bears the harsh summers with drought and high temperatures. From the rich flowers, bees that pollinate this tree can produce delicious red colour honey in June and July each year
Sidr Honey
The Sidr tree is an evergreen tree with long and strong forked branches. The blossom from this tree is called Yabyab, which provides rich food for bees to produce honey in October and November. This honey is the most expensive, but tastiest
Samar Honey
The Samar tree trunk, leaves and blossom contains Barm which is the secret of healing. You can enjoy the best types of honey from this tree every year in May and June. It is an historical witness to the life of the Emirati nation which represents the harsh desert and mountain environments
The specs
Engine: 3-litre twin-turbo V6
Power: 400hp
Torque: 475Nm
Transmission: 9-speed automatic
Price: From Dh215,900
On sale: Now
Armies of Sand
By Kenneth Pollack (Oxford University Press)
The President's Cake
Director: Hasan Hadi
Starring: Baneen Ahmad Nayyef, Waheed Thabet Khreibat, Sajad Mohamad Qasem
Rating: 4/5
