Barcelona Playing XI vs Real Madrid: Will Lewandowski Miss the Match? Team news, Predicted Lineup for Copa del Rey Final

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The stage is set for an electrifying El Clasico showdown as Barcelona and Real Madrid battle for Copa del Rey glory this Saturday night.

The two Spanish giants will meet at the Estadio de La Cartuja in Seville, Spain, in this highly anticipated final on Saturday (April 26), promising a night of world-class football drama.

Real Madrid vs Barcelona: Will Lewandowski Miss the Match?

Barcelona will be without star striker Robert Lewandowski for Saturday's Copa del Rey final against Real Madrid. Lewandowski, who has been in stellar form this season with 40 goals in 48 appearances across all competitions and he has suffered a muscle injury during Barca's dramatic comeback victory over Celta Vigo last weekend.

The club confirmed the setback in a medical update: "Tests conducted on Sunday revealed that Robert Lewandowski has sustained an injury to the semitendinosus muscle in his left thigh. His return to team training will depend on his recovery progress."

With Robert Lewandowski sidelined, Barcelona manager Hansi Flick must now determine his ideal attacking setup. He is likely deploying a creative midfielder in the Number 10 role behind Ferran Torres. Dani Olmo appears to be the frontrunner for the position, while Gavi and Fermin Lopez remain strong alternatives.

Barcelona did not specify a timeline for his return. However, manager Hansi Flick can still rely on Ferran Torres to spearhead the attack. Torres scored the decisive goal in the semi-final second leg against Atletico Madrid. He has been a key figure in the competition with five goals to his name, the joint-most in the Copa del Rey so far.

Barcelona vs Real Madrid: Injury Updates of Barcelona

Defensively, the Blaugrana will still be without Alejandro Balde, who has not fully recovered from his hamstring issue in time for the final. Gerard Martin is expected to continue at left-back with Balde likely returning for Barca's upcoming Champions League fixtures.

Though Barcelona have been boosted by the return of captain Marc Andre ter Stegen.Wojciech Szczesny will retain his place for the remainder of the season, with Flick opting against reinstating Marc-Andre ter Stegen out of respect for the Polish keeper, who came out of international retirement to fill the role. The decision underscores Flick's commitment to maintaining stability in the squad.

Alejandro Balde is also facing a race against time to recover from a hamstring injury with his availability for the final hanging in the balance pending late fitness assessments. In another setback, young midfielder Marc Casado remains sidelined with a severe knee ligament injury. He is expected to keep him out for the remainder of the campaign. This is the most devastating blow for the Catalan side.

Barcelona vs Real Madrid: Barcelona Predicted Lineup

Barcelona predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Wojciech Szczesny, Jules Kounde, Pau Cubarsi, Inigo Martinez, Gerard Martin, Pedri Gonzalez, Frenkie de Jong, Lamine Yamal, Dani Olmo, Raphinha, Ferran Torres Garcia.