Minute-by-minute on Copa del Rey final day
Follow all the build up to the Copa del Rey final, which takes place this Saturday night in Seville. (All times CEST).
8.00pm: Just an hour to go before the next episode in what has been a remarkable history in recent years:
- 2020/21. Finalists... and...???
- 2018/19. Runners-up
- 2017/18. Winners
- 2016/17. Winners
- 2015/16. Winners
- 2014/15. Winners
- 2013/14. Runners-up
- 2011/12. Winners
- 2010/11. Runners-up
- 2008/09. Winners
7.40pm: Do you remember the last time Barça and Athletic met in the final? Do you remember THAT goal which Leo Messi scored... Get in the mood for this year's game by watching the one lin 2014/15:
7.30 pm: The team are getting a light meal, after which they'll be leaving their hotel to board the coach to the ground. Not long to wait now!
7:05pm: Sergiño Dest, Pedri, Araujo, Mingueza, De Jong, Ilaix, Riqui Puig, Trincão, Griezmann, Pjanić, Braithwaite, Junior, Matheus and Neto ... None of them have ever played in a Copa del Rey Final before. How many will Ronald Koeman be giving chances to this evening?
7.00pm: This will be the 42nd Copa del Rey final for FC Barcelona, more than any other club in Spain as their nearest rivals are Real Madrid on 39.
6.25pm: 29 goals in 33 finals - that could only be one man!
6.10pm: Barça will be wearing their 'senyera' kit today, a special customised final version.
😍 We're wearing the 𝘚𝘦𝘯𝘺𝘦𝘳𝘢 kit in the Copa del Rey final! #CopaBarça
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) April 16, 2021
4.30pm: With five hours to go until kick off, now is a good time to look back at Barça's path toda's final:
3.30pm: On Friday the respective Club captains and coaches posed for the traditional photograph with the trophy, which for reasons of superstition, they refuse to touch before today's big game.
2.30pm: Here is a compilation of 10 facts about this year's Copa del Rey final.
2:00pm: It's lunchtime for the FC Barcelona squad.
1:30pm: The countdown is on! Just hours remain before FC Barcelona head to La Cartuja. The stadium may be empty, but there will be a large canvas present to show support for the team.
Cheer on Barça from home! Wear your club colours to show your support, wherever you are in the world.
12:15pm: The squad were in high spirits in this morning's training session, and received a visit from FC Barcelona president Joan Laporta.
12.00pm: Ronald Koeman is an expert in cup finals. The FC Barcelona coach has contested 30 such games: 20 as a player and 10 as a coach.
11.35am: The squad have finished training at the Luis del Sol facility, and are returning to the team hotel.
11:30am: Athletic Club and FC Barcelona have met previously in eight finals. Here is what happened in those games.
11:00am: Training for the squad is underway at the Luis del Sol facility, with an activation session led by coach Ronald Koeman.
The game itself will be broadcast live in 159 countries, and in every continent besides Australia. Never before has a Copa del Rey final been seen in so many places around the world.
9:30am : Twelve hours out from the Copa del Rey final, the Barça players are up and having breakfast in Seville.