Barcelona v Sevilla: Copa del Rey final preview

Watch live on Sky Sports Mix or SS Football (Red Button) from 8.25pm on Saturday

Image: Watch the Copa del Rey final live on Sky Sports

Barcelona will be looking to secure the first half of their domestic double when they take on Sevilla in the Copa del Rey final on Saturday, live on Sky Sports.

Ernesto Valverde's side have shown excellent resilience to pull 12 points clear of Atletico Madrid in La Liga and could win this trophy for the fourth consecutive season by seeing off Vincenzo Montella's men at the Wanda Metropolitano in Madrid (kick-off 8.30pm BST).

Sevilla beat Leganes in the semi-final to book their spot in the final, while Barca saw off Valencia with a 3-0 win over both legs.

The Copa del Rey presents Philippe Coutinho with a chance to feature in his first final for Barcelona.

The Brazil international joined Valverde's side in the January transfer window from Liverpool with the intention of winning trophies, and he hopes victory against Sevilla is the first of many.

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"I came here to play these types of matches and win titles," Coutinho told the club's website. "Being able to play a final is a very important and very happy moment.

"The days leading up to it are experienced with an eagerness to play, they are great moments and I am anxious for it to arrive.

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"It's my first chance to play a final with Barcelona and I'll do everything that depends on me so we can play a great game.

Image: Philippe Coutinho is set for his first final as a Barcelona player

"In a final, you never know what can happen, it's all different. It will be a great game and we have to play like Barcelona and look at our goals, always trying to win."

Team news

Barcelona midfielder Ivan Rakitic is set to return from a broken finger after missing the last three matches.

Gerard Pique, Samuel Umtiti, Lionel Messi and Jordi Alba will all likely return to first-team action after being rested against Celta Vigo in midweek.

Highlights of the La Liga match between Celta Vigo and Barcelona

Sevilla defender Simon Kjaer is expected to return, but Sebastien Corchia continues his absence with a groin injury.

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  • Barcelona have won the Copa del Rey 29 times, at least six more than any other team in the competition (Athletic Club, 23).
  • Both teams have met only once before in a Copa del Rey final, with Barca winning 2-0 at Vicente Calderon in May 2016.
  • Barcelona have won six of their seven finals against Sevilla in all competitions. Their only defeat was in the 2006 UEFA Super Cup (3-0 at Stade Louis II in August 2006).
  • Sevilla will play in their ninth Copa del Rey final (five titles). Indeed, this match will be their fourth final in the competition since the turn of the century. Of those previous three finals, Sevilla have only lost one - versus FC Barcelona, 2-0 in May 2016 (they won 1-0 against Getafe in 2007 and 2-0 against Atletico in 2010).
  • Barca could win the Copa del Rey for the fourth year in a row - it would be the first time in their history they have won the competition in four consecutive seasons. Indeed, they could become the first team to win it four times in a row since 1933 (Athletic Club, four titles between 1930 and 1933).
  • Lionel Messi has scored 30 goals in his 33 meetings with Sevilla in all competitions, more than against any other team.
Highlights of the La Liga match between Sevilla and Barcelona

Guillem Balague's preview

The Copa del Rey final pits two teams in completely different situations against each other. There is almost like an obligation for Barcelona to win it, they have had the league title in the bag for so long it feels like the cup is a given. It will be their fourth consecutive cup if they get the job done and their 30th in total. For Sevilla the final is not a job, it's a celebration. They are in yet another final in what's proving to be an amazing era in their history. it makes for an intriguing encounter, one that Sevilla are more than capable of managing well. Yes they see it as a celebration, but they also see it as a chance to get their hands on the cup.

Watch the Copa del Rey final - Sevilla v Barcelona - live from 8.25pm on Sky Sports Mix.

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