Real Madrid refuse to host final again

Barcelona would like to play the final of the Copa Del Rey at the home of Real Madrid, the Santiago Bernabeu.

But in the annual, political battle on where the final should be held, it looks like Real Madrid are once again trying to block seeing Barcelona potentially lift silverware on their home turf.

Famously last season the reason why the Copa Del Rey Final could not be played at the Santiago Bernabeu was because a Bruce Springsteen concert had been booked for the same period!

This season the reason is supposedly construction work.

'The Copa final can't be played at the Bernabeu because there's work going on, There's no other issue.' Real Madrid president Florentino Perez told the media as quoted by British football magazine Four Four Two.

Barcelona are still pushing for the Santiago Bernabeu however Barcelona's opponents Alavés would like the final to be played at the home of Athletic Bilbao at the San Mamés Stadium.

Alavés will be contesting their first Copa Del Rey final, whilst Barcelona will be in the show-piece final for the 40th time.

'It is the closest stadium for our fans to travel to and a lot of our supporters would be able to go. It's a modern stadium and it's a famous landmark in the Basque country.

'The capacity of the Calderon and San Mames is similar but San Mames is more modern and it's closer for us.

'I believe Athletic fans would be thrilled to have a Basque team playing the final in San Mames. I don't think Athletic would have any problems with the final being played there.' Alaves owner Josean Querejeta told Cadena Ser.

The 53,000 seater stadium was opened in 2013 and completed in 2014 at a cost of €173 million. It is one of the 13 venues to host matches at UEFA Euro 2020.