Barcelona's unexpected dropped points gave Real Madrid hope of a comeback. Marcelo's form was also picking up, reigniting hope throughout the club, and everyone was filled with anticipation for the team's future.
That anticipation also made the players yearn from the bottom of their hearts to win more matches.
On the evening of February 7, Real Madrid visited Sevilla.
After crushing their opponents 5–0 in the first leg, the second leg away from home had essentially lost its meaning.
Real Madrid fielded a half-reserve lineup and focused mainly on defense, but they still managed to draw 1–1 away from home thanks to a goal from Mbappé, advancing smoothly to the final with a 6–1 aggregate victory.
In the other semifinal, Barcelona defeated Valencia 1–0 at home and 2–0 away, winning 3–0 on aggregate and setting up a final against Real Madrid.
The two Spanish giants had once again met in the Copa del Rey final, which undoubtedly left all the fans both expectant and somewhat bored.
Everyone could see that as Real Madrid's players aged, the club was gradually declining. This season, Barcelona had come closer than ever in all these years to overthrowing Real Madrid. Yet judging from Barcelona's performances in late January and early February, they seemed to be running out of steam, while the rivalry between the two Spanish giants had also left the fans somewhat numb.
Given the current situation, it would be difficult, at least in the short term, for any team in Spain to stand up to the two giants.
At the weekend, in the twenty-third round of La Liga, Real Madrid hosted Real Sociedad.
Just forty-eight seconds after kickoff, Real Madrid made their first entry into Real Sociedad's thirty-meter area. Marcelo played a through ball, Yang Yang quickly cut diagonally behind the