It could seem more. But FC Barcelona only played three Copa del Rey finals in Seville. Thus, on April 26, the fourth will play in the city of the Guadalquivir River among the 43 that appear in Barça’s history. Now, history also holds a single final of the Copa del Rey and one of the Spanish Super Cup in the capital of Andalusia.
From the joyful first Copa…
The relationship between FC Barcelona and the final in Seville was born on May 10, 1925, at the Reina Victoria Stadium. A first chapter of success, as Culrs savored the trophy after defeating Getxo Club Arenas 0-2. Josep Samitier and Agustí Sancho were the authors of the goals for Barça, bringing joy to the fans in Barcelona, who barely celebrated their sixth Copa del Rey, hence the "Golden Age Barça."
A moment of happiness thanks to iconic players like Férenc Plattkó, Josep Planas, Andreu Bosch, Agustí Sancho, Domènec Carulla, Vicente Piera, Emili Sagi, or Pep Samitier, who paved the way for a dark night in the history of Barça’s finals in Seville. In the second final of these memories, we advance to 1986, a day of bad memory; within the European Cup.
… to the European disappointment of the second
At the Sánchez Pizjuán, Barça lost the first final in the capital of Andalusia. A tragic event for the team coached by Terry Venables against Steaua Bucharest. It was the second European Cup final that featured Barça. It also did not end on a happy note. Because the Romanian team enjoyed glory thanks to their goalkeeper, Duckadam. The nightmare keeper that day in Seville. Because, after the match ended 0-0, he stopped four penalties. Alexanco, Pedraza, Pichi Alonso, and Marcos Alonso personified the disappointment in Barcelona.
Although it is true that before moving on to the third of this story, through a single match, Seville experienced three finals of the Spanish Super Cup. All conquered by Barça in the city, as the return was always at the Spotify Camp Nou. Neither Betis in 2005 nor Sevilla in 2010 and 2016 could do anything.
Benito Villamarín, the venue of the third
So, thirty years had to pass before FC Barcelona opted for a new trophy in Seville in a single match. This time it was at Benito Villamarín. A different setting, but a bitter conclusion. Ernesto Valverde’s squad arrived at the 2019 Copa del Rey final with the ambition to claim the fifth consecutive double. After being crowned league champions, players like Messi, Piqué, Busquets, and Rakitic could not prevent Valencia from lifting the cup in the sky of Seville.
Two more in 2021 with different outcomes
It seemed that the city of Giralda only brought bad luck for FC Barcelona. Because in 2021, a new lost ending started at the central stadium, Cartuja. Athletic Club won a final behind closed doors due to the Covid pandemic to claim the Spanish Super Cup against Ronald Koeman’s Barcelona.
But finally, leaving behind the bitter taste, a successful final in the capital of Andalusia is revisited. In the same year 2021, the lineup of the legendary Dutch player could avenge the Bilbao team from the Copa del Rey final, played without an audience at the Cartuja Stadium, which will also host the clash on April 26 between FC Barcelona and Real Madrid.
A resounding 0-4 to conquer the Copa del Rey, the ultimate tribute. Undoubtedly, a special title as it was the last for Leo Messi in the Barça shirt, but the first for players like Frenkie de Jong, Pedri, Araujo, Ansu Fati, or Iñaki Peña. Current squad members who want to repeat the confetti in Seville. A city where FC Barcelona aims to write a new success story in a final.