Real Madrid breaks its curse in the Cup and returns to the final nine years later

MADRID, 5 Abr. (EUROPA PRESS) -

Real Madrid prevailed (0-4) tonight at the Camp Nou against FC Barcelona, ​​in the duel corresponding to the second leg of the Copa del Rey semifinals, a triumph that allows them to break their curse with the KO tournament, competition in which they had not reached the final since 2014, the season in which they were last proclaimed champions.

The Real Madrid coach, Carlo Ancelotti, opened one of Real Madrid's most successful stages in the 2013-2014 campaign, by being proclaimed champion of the Copa del Rey and lifting the long-awaited tenth European Cup for the club. That was the beginning of a brilliant cycle for the meringues, who have celebrated five Champions Leagues and three Leagues in the last eight years. A 'party' of almost a decade in which the Copa del Rey has hardly had a leading role.

On April 16, 2014, the Welshman Gareth Bale started his 'motorbike' on the left wing of Mestalla to put the final 1-2 into extra time that returned Real Madrid to a title they had not won since 2011, in another final against the FC Barcelona. And the whites haven't lifted the KO trophy since that special night, so the move to the final achieved this Wednesday is a joy that breaks down a 'wall' already too high and strong.

Although it leads the list of most awarded teams in the Champions League and the League, in the Cup, with 19 trophies won, it is far from Barça's 31 or Athletic Club's 23. And it is that Real Madrid has lifted the cupbearer trophy only twice this century, unable to maintain the good dynamics with which the 20th century began. Until the 1993 title, the whites had accumulated 17 Cups, and it was from there that their break with the competition began.

With high goals in Europe and the League, the team from the capital has suffered several painful blows in the Cup, which now seems to have left behind to return to fight for the trophy. After raising it in 2014, Real Madrid fell in the round of 16 against Atlético and in 2016 the 'Cheryshev case' and its improper alignment exploded. The following two seasons had Celta as executioners in the quarterfinals and, in another setback to remember, Leganés.

And Real Sociedad (fourth and losing 3-4 at the Bernabéu), Alcoyano from Segunda B and Athletic (fourth) completed the curse of eight years in the Cup. The oasis until this campaign had been the semifinals of the 2018-season. 2019, lost against Barça, who won 0-3 in the second leg at the Concha Espina Coliseum after the 1-1 draw at Camp Nou.

As in 2013-2014, the whites are hooked on the Copa del Rey to sweeten a season in which the Champions League, of which they are current champions, is again the great bet of Ancelotti's men, with the trick of the League bordering on the impossible. The mission to make up for lost time in the cup tournament is still on, eliminating the heavy favorite and returning to the championship final nine years later.

In that match for the title, CA Osasuna is already waiting, which, like Real Madrid, will also enjoy the opportunity to fight to lift the trophy 18 years later. The 'rojillos' will have a hard bone in Ancelotti's men in the second cup final in his history, in which the illusion of the unprecedented will fight with that of returning to the throne almost a decade later.