Real Madrid-FC Barcelona Combined Starting XI for the 2024-25 Season So Far

Saturday's Copa del Rey final between FC Barcelona and Real Madrid comes at an important moment for both clubs.

Barca stand on the brink of an incredible season. They are top of La Liga and in the Champions League semi-finals, while their rivals are struggling to keep pace domestically and crashed out of the European competition at the quarter-final stage.

Any number of world-class stars could step up to take the win this weekend. But what, in an alternate universe, if these teams merged together? Who would start? Time to ignite the comments.

No real arguments here, surely?

Thibaut Courtois remains one of the world's best goalkeepers and a leader in the Real Madrid squad.

Wojciech Szczęsny is having an impressive return to form after seemingly coming out of retirement for Barca, but he's not displacing the Belgium international, and neither would any of the other Blaugrana goalkeepers.

Often overlooked among Barcelona's ridiculous array of young talent, Alejandro Balde has worked hard this season.

He's a naturally gifted left-back whose incisive runs provide vital time for teammates to fill the box.

At 21 years old, it will be exciting to see where Balde goes from here. Hansi Flick obviously trusts him, and Balde is responding to that trust by improving all the time.

Sorry, Ferland Mendy, you don't cut it here.

Madrid are lucky to have any defenders in this combined back four.

For now, I would rather have Antonio Rudiger with me in the trenches than Pau Cubarsi.

There's a huge character here in the Germany international, who has made a habit of delivering for his teams in big matches.

Give it another year, though, and the Barca youngster may well get the nod.

An example of why it's important to have experienced heads in a young squad that has the potential to go places.

Iñigo Martinez's coolness and reading of the game helps fill the gaps Barcelona naturally leave after an attack breaks down.

The 33-year-old was one of those signings that didn't feel particularly sexy at the time of his arrival in July 2023, but he is proving more than worth it.

Martinez's experience has plugged the gap left by the injured Ronald Araújo and allowed youngster Pau Cubarsi to settle.

Are there many better defenders than Jules Koundé right now? The Frenchman has really settled at Barca and showcased all-round quality in his best season for the club.

The 26-year-old is excellent at maintaining control whether he's on the ball or not. He provides attacking support, is intelligent in possession and has imposing physical attributes that make him a difficult player to bypass.

Koundé is the type of player whose absence would be immediately noticed across the pitch and someone Barca should tie down well beyond his current deal that ends in 2027.

Think back to when Pedri was overworked and injured. It felt like his career might not take off in the way many expected and he could be turned to dust by a relentless schedule.

Those fears have been quashed for now, with the 22-year-old showing he's one of the best central midfielders in the game.

On current form, Pedri gets into any team on the planet. He dictates through distribution and energy off the ball, making him involved in most of Barca's best moments.

The forwards might be making the headlines, but they wouldn't be performing this well without Pedri's engine.

It's eye-opening to think some people are considering Jude Bellingham's season to be a "bad" one. He's still put up 20-plus goal contributions across La Liga and the Champions League, despite struggling in the early months.

There's no hiding the England international's frustration has crept in at times. Whether that's the Carlo Ancelotti impact remains to be seen. He still ranks among the world's most clutch midfielders and can be called on to provide when his team needs him.

Remarkably, Bellingham is still only 21 and it's frightening to think he has so much more growing to do. Like Pedri, he's a generational talent who simply has to be in this lineup.

Federico Valverde provided a stunning reminder of what an explosive match-winner he can be against Athletic Club Bilbao on Sunday.

His outrageous goal only heightened the sense that he is one of a number of Madrid players who have become a little stale under Carlo Ancelotti and will benefit from a new manager coming in next season.

The 26-year-old always works hard for his team. However, injuries mean he's had to fill in at right-back recently, a position that halts many of his best attributes.

It feels unfair to imagine the midfield three in this article, a setup that would allow Valverde to showcase his passing range, tackling ability and penchant for doing something a bit special when in front of goal.

I've written a lot of complimentary things about Raphinha this season.

As it stands, the 28-year-old is my pick for the Ballon d'Or after a season that has come out of nowhere.

He has scored 27 goals and provided 16 assists across La Liga and Europe, both of which could end in Barca winning trophies. He has often been the man to dig Barcelona out of a hole.

Perhaps the best indicator of his quality this season? Vinicius Junior doesn't really get close to Raphinha on current form.

What more is there to say about Lamine Yamal at this point?

He's 17. He scores goals and lays on assists. He is already one of the best dribblers in the world. He was key in Spain's European Championship win. I could go on and on.

No disrespect to Rodrygo, who is severely underrated, but this spot was only ever going to one player.

Yamal is impacting games more devastatingly than most teenagers in football history. He's capable of putting together a GOAT career if he continues at this pace.

I'm not one of those people who thinks Kylian Mbappé has made Real Madrid worse. I don't think he's having a poor season.

There are plenty of issues that need sorting in the Spanish capital, and a new manager can bring the energy and fresh ideas to make Madrid's attacking players gel more coherently.

With that said, at the current time, I would pick Robert Lewandowski over him if I desperately needed a goal.

Having the 36-year-old stalking the opposition area in the context of this team also makes total sense; We know he can work brilliantly with the two wingers.

Lewandowski is playing football that is freer than Mbappé, less scrutinised and ultimately more prolific.