The Copa del Rey final Real Madrid and Barcelona takes place at the Mestalla in Valencia on Wednesday evening, and we've put our heads together to pick the three best goals from previous contests.
Before we get to that, though, some interesting stats ahead of this evening's game.
- Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti has won 8 of his 11 finals as a manager and lost two on penalties.
- Lionel Messi has played Real Madrid five times in the Copa del Rey and is yet to score against them.
- Real Madrid have played in 38 cup finals.
- Barcelona have won four out of their last five Copa del Rey finals. Their only defeat, however, came at the hands of Real in 2011, which leads us nicely into our three favourite goals...
3rd place: Cristiano Ronaldo – Real Madrid v Barcelona, 2011
The bullet header to beat all bullet headers, made all the better by the fact that it came in extra-time and won the trophy for Madrid against their, at the time, more fancied opponents.
http://youtu.be/_BZFzuAO0fQ
2nd place: Yaya Touré – Barcelona v Athletic Bilbao, 2009
Phenomenal. It can be easy to forget just how good the younger Touré was before he showed up in England, but he was an absolute powerhouse for Barcelona before bigger names took precedence and he was sold to Manchester City.
This is, arguably, the best goal from his time in Spain and displays brilliant skills as well as a powerful shot.
http://youtu.be/H7EcFd6Dz3Q
1st place: Gaizka Mendieta – Valencia v Atletico Madrid, 1999
Simply phenomenal stuff from a man who, inexplicably, played much of his career at Middlesbrough.
http://youtu.be/Cd-5DGGKA24
