Catalan capital's cup chance

The city of Barcelona could make the first instalment on a famous double as RCD Espanyol take on Real Zaragoza in tonight's Copa del Rey final.

Clean sweep
With FC Barcelona on course for the Primera División title, a fourth Spanish Cup success for neighbours Espanyol would give the Catalan capital a clean sweep of domestic honours in 2005/06. However, as they seek their eighth cup victory at the Santiago Bernabéu stadium, Zaragoza have their own motivation.

Epic journey
Víctor Muñoz's side's route to the final has been an epic one. Penalty shoot-outs in the third and fourth rounds took them past Alicante CF and Xerez CF respectively, before they progressed to the quarter-finals with a 3-2 aggregate win against Club Atlético de Madrid.

Hard road
Zaragoza then knocked out Barcelona in the last eight, 5-4 on aggregate, before disposing of Real Madrid CF with a 6-5 aggregate triumph. Having advanced the hard way, Muñoz believes his team merit some silverware, saying: "We deserve the trophy because of all the great sides we've beaten."

Lotina unafraid
Given these exploits, Zaragoza are many people's favourites to lift the cup, but not Espanyol coach Miguel Ángel Lotina's. "Zaragoza have done well in this competition but the favourites do not always win," he said. "My players are motivated and we're playing for the fans."

Posse injured
Having defeated Getafe CF, Real Betis Balompié and RC Deportivo La Coruña en route to Madrid, Espanyol have had an easier ride than Zaragoza, and with Martín Posse (calf) their only injured player, they go into the showpiece in pretty good shape.

'Top form'
Espanyol's Iván de la Peña, who has won three Spanish Cups already and has never been on the losing side against Zaragoza, said: "The match will be very close because both teams are on form. In games like this, league results don't count for anything." For the record, both clubs drew 1-1 at the weekend - Espanyol at home against Atlético, and Zaragoza away to Sevilla FC.

Milito brothers
Meanwhile, Zaragoza's Milito brothers, Gabi and Diego, are keen to collect their first trophy together. Gabi claimed the Copa del Rey with Zaragoza in 2004 but would love to repeat the feat with his sibling. "Now we have the chance and Diego is an experienced player who knows what it is to win titles," said Gabi. "We've played well and now all we want is to be champions."