Barcelona to Request Copa Del Rey Final Be Played at Real Madrid's Bernabeu

Barcelona have reportedly asked to play the Copa del Rey final on enemy soil, with outlets suggesting they wish the fixture to be scheduled at Real Madrid's Bernabeu home.

Continue for updates.

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Real Madrid Looking to Avoid Hosting Copa del Rey Final

Thursday, March 5

Sport detailed Real Madrid's efforts to avoid hosting the Copa del Rey final:

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Diario AS has explained that the club were thinking of using their B team, Castilla, as an excuse for not allowing the final to take place there. 

The B side may have to play a play-off match to reach the second division on that date. 

However, Cadena Ser say that the club might not even use this argument and simply say that they don't want to host finals there. 

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Barcelona Wans Copa Final At Bernabeu

Wednesday, March 4

AS highlighted the breaking news, commenting Barca want to travel to the Spanish capital if they reach the final:

David Ramos/Getty Images

Referencing Catalan newspaper Sport, AS says the Blaugrana will be pleased if the game is played at the home of Los Blancos, a venue that has become somewhat of a lucky charm for the club in the Spanish Cup. 

The Camp Nou superclub has won six of its seven Copa del Rey final appearances at Madrid's famous ground, per AS, with the team evidently comfortable in its Clasico rival's stadium.

AS also reports Barcelona made a similar request for the final to be played in Madrid in 2012, but their wishes were denied by the Galacticos, with the stadium in the middle of "refurbishment." 

Barca's first Spanish Cup success in the Bernabeu came in 1959 when the Catalans defeated Granada, with a further success in 1968 when they toppled Madrid in their own backyard. 

Luis Enrique's outfit must now get past a defensively dogmatic Villarreal side in the semi-final, but Barca carry a 3-1 advantage from the first leg, giving themselves a huge opportunity to jump their last hurdle. 

Coach Enrique says he will not be taking his Valencian opponents lightly, but he feels his team is in the "perfect moment" to progress, per BBC Sport:

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This is the perfect moment in terms of results and form. And let's hope we can turn that form into titles. The aim is to win the match. That way there can be no surprises. It would be huge to score a goal. We won't be holding out for a draw. We'll take the game seriously and play our usual attacking football.

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Daniel Tejedor/Associated Press

Barca are used to playing on the biggest stages in world football, so it is no surprise that a trip to the Bernabeu is favoured if they expectantly dispatch The Yellow Submarine on Wednesday night.

Enrique's team is starting to show a sustained run of form in terms of style and performance, and with Luis Suarez beginning to look like the Liverpool incarnation of old, trophies cannot be too far away for the famous Spanish club. 

Barca or Villarreal's opponent for the showpiece final will come from Espanyol or Athletic Bilbao, who are tied at 1-1 from their first leg.

The final will take place on May 30.