When Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid take to the pitch in the 2013 Copa del Rey title match, multiple storylines will come to fruition.
Atletico hasn't beaten Real in 14 seasons and if they're able to pull off the victory on the biggest stage of the year, the club and its manager Diego Pablo Simeone will be able to celebrate a championship, and a long-awaited defeat of rival Real Madrid.
The Copa del Rey final will begin on Friday, May 17 at 3:30 p.m., EDT. Coverage will be provided by the ESPN television network while an on-line live stream will be available through ESPN3.com.
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Real Madrid and premier player Cristiano Ronaldo are the favorites heading into the final match following their 3-1 victory over Barcelona in the semifinals. As his squad finishes their preparation for the title game, Ronaldo knows they key to Real's success will be avoiding complacency.
"We have to make a good, strong start, the way this club, the best in the world, really plays," the 28-year-old forward said in an interview with Real Madrid TV. "We're ready and determined to win this title."
Ronaldo enters the final as one of the top scorers in the league. Among the scoring greats in regular and postseason play along with Ronaldo, Atletico's Costa Diego is certainly in the conversation when talking about some of the most dangerous scorers in the game.
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While Ronaldo has certainly made a name for himself over the years, Costa Diego leads a highly talented Atletico Madrid team into the Copa del Rey final, a final they certainly believe they are capable of winning, even though Real may be the more talented team.
"We have an opponent before us who will punish any mistakes. I'd say that they are better than us but in a game it's different," coach Simeone said in a press conference. "We have to play a high tempo match, have good possession of the ball and exploit our two strikers. That will create more opportunities for us."
The 2013 championship match may be a little more meaningful to Real Madrid for a number of reasons. First, this is the final chance manager Jose Mourinho will have to win a title with Real Madrid as he will coach his last championship match for the team before moving on.
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There is also added anticipation for Real since they'll have the opportunity to win their 19th Copa del Rey championship on their home field when they begin the title match Friday at their Santiago Bernabeu.
"We're very excited about this trophy and we want to win," Cristiano Ronaldo said to Yahoo Sports. "We know it's going to be a really hard-fought game against a rival from the same city. It's going to be a great show. Let's hope that Real Madrid can win."
The level of excitement for this Copa del Rey final is through the roof as the crowd in attendance and those watching from home will have the chance to see two teams from the same city battle for a championship.
Be sure to catch the 2012-2013 Copa del Rey final on Friday, May 17 at 3:30 p.m., EDT. Television coverage will be provided by the ESPN network while an on-line live stream can be viewed by going to ESPN3.com.
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