The Copa del Rey final between Barcelona and Real Madrid is expected to be an exciting clash, but there is a specific concern in the Barcelona dressing room that goes beyond the star names. Pedri and several other key figures in the squad have identified Fede Valverde as Real Madrid’s biggest threat even more so than players like Vinícius and Kylian Mbappé.
According to reports from within the dressing room, Fede Valverde is considered the most decisive player in this match. The Uruguayan heads into the final in outstanding form, combining his trademark physicality with impressive attacking impact. His ability to advance from deep, his strength in transitions, and his powerful medium-range shots are all factors that Barcelona view as extremely dangerous.
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Pedri, De Jong, and the team’s other key midfielders are well aware that Valverde can be a game-changer in high-stakes matches, as he has proven on numerous occasions for Real Madrid. As a result, the instructions in the dressing room are clear: do not give him space to run, and don’t allow him to set up for a shot easily.
Valverde’s fitness is another major concern for Barcelona. In a match that’s expected to be intense where every meter gained can be decisive the Uruguayan remains a constant threat due to his ability to cover large distances at high speed, both defensively and offensively.
This week, Flick and his coaching staff have been working specifically on how to stop Real Madrid’s transitions, where Valverde often plays a key role. The objective will be to shut down passing lanes, anticipate positioning, and prevent the Uruguayan midfielder from making the runs that disrupt the Blaugrana’s defensive structure.
Another source of concern is his shooting from outside the penalty area. In tightly contested matches, where defenses tend to close in, a long-range shot can break the balance of the game. Pedri and his teammates know they must be extremely cautious to deny Valverde the space he needs to attempt such efforts.
