Madrid and Barça face each other yet again this evening, this time in the Champions League semi finals (20.45h CET). The two opposing styles are once again about to clash at the Santiago Bernabéu stadium, with FC Barcelona missing the injured Iniesta.
FC Barcelona made it into the semi finals of the Champions League without having to suffer for it by winning 1-0 away to Shakhtar. A Messi goal before the break banished any fears of the Ukrainians putting together a comeback.
Barça, the team that has won the trophy the most times, are into their 35th Copa del Rey final. For coach Pep Guardiola this is already his seventh final since taking his place on the bench, and his second appearance in the domestic cup final.
Barça qualified for the final of the Copa del Rey after continuing the good work in the semi final first leg by increasing their aggregate score against Almería to 8-0 following classy goals from Adriano, Thiago and Afellay.
FC Barcelona go out to defend a convincing 5-0 first leg win over Almería as they seek to qualify for yet another final (20.00h). Guardiola is taking his full squad, and only the injured Puyol, Jeffren and Iniesta have no chance of playing.
Spanish team features no less than seven regulars from the Catalan champions. In a surprising week, Brazil and Argentina were sent home, while Spain reached semi-finals for the first time in its history.