Madrid mindful of final misery

Past times
Zaragoza edged that thrilling game 3-2 in Barcelona to continue Madrid's winless run in the competition which has now stretched to 13 years. Coach Juan Ramón López Caro has made no secret of his desire to end the sequence, and is looking to his Brazilian trident of Julio Baptista, Ronaldo and Robinho to help take the initiative in the first leg at La Romareda. But Zaragoza, who beat FC Barcelona in the quarter-finals, will be no pushovers.

Pandiani edge
Madrid also lost the 2001/02 final to RC Deportivo La Coruña, and this year's showpiece could provide another replay as Joaquín Caparrós's team face RCD Espanyol in the other semi-final. The Barcelona outfit have home advantage for the first leg, where all eyes will be on Uruguayan striker Walter Pandiani. The 29-year-old scored 32 goals in two spells at Deportivo, but will be keen to fire Espanyol back to form following their heavy weekend defeat by Madrid.

'Historic chance'
Miguel Ángel Lotina's side were on the wrong end of a 4-0 scoreline, yet with three losses in four league matches, Deportivo are hardly sparkling either. Espanyol midfielder Iván de la Peña is keen to capitalise, saying: "This is a historic chance for us, but first we have to beat a Deportivo who are wounded by recent results."