Real Madrid has a storied, sometimes painful history in the King’s Cup finals. The club owns 19 trophy lifts in this competition, yet it has failed to clinch the title in 20 finals. This uneven KO record in the 21st century has left a lingering sense of unease among Madrid supporters and observers alike.
Bale’s journey on Bartra
Since 2000, the white club has reached five finals in this tournament, suffering three losses and securing two decisive wins, both against Barcelona. The clashes at Mestalla stand out. In the first meeting, José Mourinho was on the sidelines and Cristiano Ronaldo hit the ground in a show of strength after finishing Ángel Di María’s cross in 2011 to seal the title.
In 2014, Carlo Ancelotti managed the team as the final lineup took the field: Iker Casillas; Carvajal, Pepe, Ramos, Coentrao; Xabi Alonso, Modric, Isco, Di Maria; Benzema and Bale. In the second half, Illarramendi, Casemiro and Varane also came on as substitutes.
Di María, Bartra and Bale authored the goals in a match that elevated Madrid to the championship. It has been nine seasons since then, and the squad could relive that memory with Carlo Ancelotti back on the bench, Dani Carvajal at right back, Luka Modric still in the mix, and Nacho representing the current squad even if he did not feature in the final. Those players remain among Madrid’s most successful in this competition this century.
From Centenary to the setback against Real Zaragoza
Apart from those two titles, Real Madrid has endured three finals in the Santiago Bernabéu era that ended in disappointment. The most painful was the Centenariazo on March 6, 2002, during the club’s 100th anniversary. Madrid faced Deportivo La Coruña, a team that arrived quietly but made its presence felt late in the match.
Deportivo claimed a 1-2 victory, with Raúl and Diego Tristán scoring for Madrid’s opponents after a summer when Florentino Pérez had just begun his presidency. The defeat cast a shadow over a milestone night and the memory of that Centenariazo lingered for fans and historians alike. The outcome also marked a difficult moment in the tenure of Vicente Del Bosque as a coach, alongside Javier Irureta who guided Deportivo that night.
Shortly after, in 2004, the Galácticos traveled to Montjuïc to play Zaragoza on March 17. The pace of the final opened up, and goals flowed as Zaragoza exploited Madrid’s vulnerabilities. David Villa, a Madrid youth academy alumnus, and Luciano Galletti delivered decisive strikes that kept the visitors at bay. The Cup went to the Aragon side in a dramatic overtime finish, highlighting the unpredictable nature of knockout football on the shore of the Ebro.
Atlético’s great victory
The most recent high-profile setback also occurred at Chamartín, where Real Madrid hosted Atlético Madrid. Two coaches were involved in a classic tactical chess match, with Madrid briefly taking the lead before Atlético equalized. Cristiano Ronaldo struck early in the game, followed by Diego Costa’s equalizer to set up a tense finish that required extra time.
José María Sánchez Martínez to whistle the King’s Cup final
The final required extra time, and in a tightly contested phase a poorly defended set piece allowed Joao Miranda to score the decisive goal for Atlético in the first period of extra time. The dramatic finish left a lasting image of Koke lifting the trophy as Madrid’s hopes faded on the Bernabéu grass.
For Real Madrid the prospect of a sixth final this century carried real significance. It could extend a Cup roster featuring world champions like Toni Kroos, a player who has achieved nearly every club honor aside from this particular domestic knockout trophy. The squad also looked to give Courtois his first cup triumph with Madrid, hoping to crown a career characterized by strong performances for both club and country. The younger core—Vinícius, Rodrygo, Dani Ceballos, Asensio, Camavinga, Tchouaméni—also hoped to play meaningful roles in lifting the trophy and restoring confidence in the team’s knockout fortunes.
Insecure before the Copa del Rey final
Yet a long-standing frustration persists for the club. The Copa del Rey remains a trophy that promises a different kind of satisfaction, and Madrid has had to navigate winding paths to reach the final rounds. The road often tests the squad on multiple fronts, from qualification rounds to the high-stakes quarter-finals and semi-finals against rivals like Villarreal, Atlético, and Barça.
Looking ahead, the team’s strategy at La Cartuja, and the locker room dynamics under Carlo Ancelotti, will shape this final’s outcome. The manager emphasized a disciplined approach, focusing on collective effort rather than individual brilliance, and the squad remains determined to convert past near-misses into a celebrated triumph. History may defend its own, but the present offered Madrid a clear chance to rewrite the narrative and secure a coveted cup title for the current generation.