Silver shines in Spain

By Andy Hall

As Real Madrid CF and Real Zaragoza line up for the Copa del Rey final at the Olímpico stadium in Barcelona tonight, both clubs have good reason to give everything to win the 102-year-old trophy.

Last chance
For Zaragoza, 15th in the Primera División table, the Spanish Cup is their last chance to salvage some silverware from a drab season, while Carlos Queiroz's Madrid know that this title could be the first in a famous treble also including the league championship and UEFA Champions League.

Long wait
Zaragoza have won the Copa del Rey twice in the last decade, but surprisingly it has been eleven years since Madrid lifted the trophy. In an odd coincidence, it was Zaragoza that the Merengues beat 2-0 in Valencia on 26 June 1993 to claim the cup, but they would be forgiven for not thinking this was a good omen.

Stand-out defeat
After all, most at the Santiago Bernabéu will remember the 2002 final when Madrid, at their home stadium and on the exact date of their centenary, looked destined to win against RC Deportivo La Coruña. Against the script, however, Deportivo prevailed 2-1 to show that even the best-starred nights can end badly.

Missing medal
For many of Madrid's players, a Copa del Rey winner's medal is one of few missing pieces in an otherwise full trophy cabinet. Striker Raúl González was a day away from his 16th birthday the last time the trophy returned to the Bernabéu, while Zinedine Zidane has never won a domestic cup in his career.

Special prize
Of Madrid's stars, only Ronaldo and Luís Figo have won this competition - both with FC Barcelona. David Beckham summed up the dressing-room atmosphere, saying: "Winning the cup is special and there is an excitement within the dressing-room, it's something we really want."

Injury worries
However, coach Queiroz has been troubled by injury doubts this week. Having struggled with a hamstring tear, Ronaldo failed a late fitness test and is ruled out. Raúl has been nursing an ankle injury and did not feature when the sides drew 1-1 in Saturday's league meeting in Madrid.

Duo recovered
By contrast, Zaragoza coach Víctor Muñoz has strikers Savio Bortolini and Dani García - both former Madrid players - back in his squad. Central defender Gabriel Milito will also want to be at his best - the Argentinian's transfer to Madrid collapsed at the eleventh hour last summer before he joined the Maños.

Zaragoza chance
Promising Zaragoza forward David Villa already has his sights set on the trophy. "Coming away without the cup would be a disaster," he said. "If you reach the final you should do everything you can to win. Madrid have a great team but they are not unbeatable, and if they have a bad day then we could win."

Muted celebrations
Celebrations, however, may be muted for the winners. Madrid customarily toast their victories at the capital's Cibeles statue, Zaragoza at the Plaza del Pilar in the north-east city, but both clubs have made it clear that they will not parade the cup in honour of the victims of last week's terrorist attack in Madrid.