'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
The 117th edition of the Copa del Rey final will take place on Saturday, May 25 2019, and will see Valencia and Barcelona battle it out for glory at the Estadio Benito Villamarin.
The fixture offers an opportunity for Barcelona to win the domestic double for the second consecutive season, while for Valencia, victory would see them lay their hands on a trophy for the first time since 2008 when they triumphed in this same competition.
A host of wonderful players will be on display in the match and while Barcelona might be overwhelming favorites to triumph in the clash, Valencia also have a couple of players who could decide the tie in their side's favor.
Trending
In this piece, we shall be taking a look at five forwards who could decide the outcome of the 2019 Copa del Rey final.
#5 Malcom
A rather surprising inclusion given that the Brazilian has hardly made a mark at the Nou Camp since completing his transfer from Bordeaux last summer. However, it is pertinent to note that of the four goals the 22-year-old has scored this season, two came from this very competition.
Given that Ousmane Dembele and Luis Suarez have been ruled out through injury and Philippe Coutinho only recently returned to training, the coast could be clear for Malcom to be handed a rare start in an important fixture.
The presence of the more dangerous Lionel Messi in the squad means that the Valencia defenders would have their attention focused on him, giving Malcom the freedom to harm them.
Malcom arrived at Barcelona as one of the most sought after young players owing to his displays with Bordeaux. But so far, he has yet to truly spark at the Camp Nou. The Copa del Rey final offers an excellent opportunity for him to showcase his abilities and this is an opportunity he could grab with both hands.
#4 Rodrigo
Rodrigo Moreno Machado is one of the veterans of the current Valencia squad, having spent the last five seasons at the Estadio Mestalla.
The 28-year-old has never been particularly proficient in front of goal, with his best tally in a Valencia shirt coming in the 2017/2018 season when he scored 16 goals from 37 La Liga matches to help Marcelino's men qualify for the Champions League.
So far this season, the Spanish international has scored 14 goals from 50 matches in all competitions, with four of those coming from six matches for Valencia in the Copa del Rey.
While there might be more famous and illustrious forwards on the field, Rodrigo can take solace in the fact that the Barcelona defense has not exactly inspired confidence in recent months, conceding four each against Villareal and Liverpool, while Elche and Celta Vigo also put two past Marc-Andre ter Stegen. As such, the former Benfica man would fancy his chances.
#3 Philippe Coutinho
This has been a disappointing season for Coutinho up till this point. The 26-year-old had arrived Nou Camp as the club's record signing in January 2018 and it was expected that he would be the long-term successor to the legendary Andres Iniesta in the Barcelona midfield.
However, that failed to be the case, as the Brazilian international has largely failed to live up to expectations and has struggled massively to showcase his abilities.
So far this season, the former Liverpool man has scored just 11 goals and created five assists from 52 matches in all competitions, which pales in contrast to the 10 goals and five assists just 22 matches he recorded in his first half season at the club to help Barcelona lift the double.
Things got so bad during the course of the season that Coutinho lost his starting spot in the side, while he was also the target of numerous boos by the Blaugrana faithful, with reports emanating that he is seeking a transfer away from the club.
While he might have only recently returned to training having picked up an injury some weeks ago, Coutinho is expected to play some part in the fixture and the Copa del Rey final offers an opportunity for him to silence his critics and end this horror season on a high.
#2 Santi Mina
Having been seemingly convinced of his abilities after spending three seasons at Celta Vigo, Valencia paid the sum of €10m for the signature of Santi Mina Lorenzo in the summer 2015.
Since then, the 23-year-old has proved himself to be a useful and integral part of the Valencia setup, discharging his duties with minimum fuss while also making the most of the opportunities afforded to him.
He had his breakout campaign last term when he scored 15 goals from 38 matches in all competitions. Even though his return dropped off somewhat to just 13 from 45 matches this season, Santi Mina won many admirers for his tireless work ethic and team play.
He has undoubtedly saved his best performance this term for the Copa del Rey where he has scored four goals from just five matches to power his side to the final and he has a chance to improve on this total when he comes up against Gerard Pique and co on Saturday..
#1 Lionel Messi
There was always going to be one name atop this list and there would have been no prizes for guessing who, as Lionel Messi has played his way into being considered arguably the greatest game changer in the history of the wonderful game of football.
Having watched on powerlessly as his side capitulated against Liverpool in the Champions League, Lionel Messi will be eager to right that wrong with an explosive performance in the final before heading off to the one scene where he has failed to conquer - the international stage with his country.
Having recently made history by scoring 600 club goals, the Barcelona number 10 would be looking to to add a few more goals to his rather impressive tally of half a century of goals this season.
Indeed, Los Che are no strangers to feeling Messi's wrath, as they are currently his third most favorite side to face, having scored 27 goals and registered 13 assists from just 31 matches against Valencia. The most recent record was when he scored a brace in the 2-2 La Liga draw in February.
