Estadio De Mestalla Chosen As Stadium For 2014 Copa Del Rey Final Between Barcelona, Real Madrid

While Barcelona and Real Madrid continue their respective fixtures in the Spanish Primera Division, RFEF recently announced the host location for the highly anticipated Copa del Rey final between the La Liga giants. Provisionally indicating earlier in the week that the Estadio de Mestalla will serve as the championship venue, Spanish officials elected to go with a place extremely familiar with the Spanish Cup championship. The last time Estadio de Mestalla – home of La Liga affiliate Valencia – hosted the title match, Real Madrid took down Barcelona in extra time, perhaps a big reason why the Royal Spanish Federation chose a comfortable setting for the 2014 version.

Led by 2011 Copa del Rey hero Cristiano Ronaldo – who recently claimed the 2013 Ballon d'Or Award – Real Madrid was able to bang past La Liga rival Atletico Madrid in the two-legged CdR semifinals. With Ronaldo playing at top form and contributing play coming from summer acquisition Gareth Bale, Los Blancos remain in great shape in the Spanish Cup and in the Primera Division. Tied atop the standings with Barca and Atletico, Real Madrid will surely use the time ahead of the Copa Final to solidify their place in the uber-competitive La Liga.

As Real was taking care of Atletico in the semi's, four-time Ballon d'Or Award winner Lionel Messi and Barcelona were disposing of Spanish rival Real Sociedad, in a semifinal showdown that was tighter than most expected. Earning a 2-0 victory to start, Messi and Barca played to a 1-1 draw with La Real, advancing to another CdR Final on the strength of a 3-1 aggregate. Owning a cup record 26 titles, Barcelona certainly possesses the talent to capture another championship, a title that would be even sweeter if they're able to take down Ronaldo and Real Madrid.

The Copa del Rey final will be played on April 19 and RFEF is expected to finalize stadium plans in early March. Offering Estadio de Mestalla as the title pitch, Cup officials are expected to seal the host site upon the agreement of both Barcelona and Real Madrid.