Barcelona meeting Real Madrid in El Clásico is always a big deal, but when the two bitter LaLiga rivals meet in the Copa del Rey final on Saturday (stream LIVE at 3 p.m. ET on ESPN+) they do so with a major trophy on the line.
Barça coach Hansi Flick and Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti both have some of the world's best players at their disposal. But which players would each manager like to take from their rivals and add to their own team, if given the chance?
ESPN's Barcelona and Real Madrid correspondents, Sam Marsden and Alex Kirkland, have each chosen their combined XI based on this season's form and talked through their selections.
Marsden: Five of the players I've chosen are undisputed starters in the XI, in my opinion. Do you want to guess who they are?
Kirkland: OK. Thibaut Courtois? Pedri? Jude Bellingham?
Marsden: Not Bellingham. It's not because they're the five best players, necessarily -- I just think they're the clear picks, this season, in their positions.
Kirkland: OK. So Jules Koundé at right-back. It's been Real Madrid's problem position all season. Dani Carvajal (out since October with a ruptured ACL) is unavailable long term, and there's no way Lucas Vázquez is making this team...
... I guess the only question is: could we do what Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti does in big games and pick midfielder Federico Valverde at right back?
Marsden: Let's come back to that. For me, the five are Courtois, Koundé, Alejandro Balde at left-back -- Ferland Mendy is too injury-prone -- Pedri and Lamine Yamal.
Kirkland: All five of them are in both of our XIs, so no disagreement here!
Shall we talk about the defense? Because for me, center back was difficult. I can see a strong case for picking, as you have, an all-Barça back four. There's been a lot of talk about Barça's so-called fragility with their high defensive line, but I think it has actually proved pretty effective.
Marsden: It's two players from three for me: Pau Cubarsí, Iñigo Martínez and Antonio Rüdiger, based on form this season. Éder Militão is still injured, and Ronald Araújo hasn't been fit often enough.
For me, the Barça duo have the edge, but I'd listen to your argument in favor of Rüdiger...
Kirkland: I'll be honest, I was tempted by Cubarsí and Martínez too. I think you can make a case that Martínez has been the best defender in LaLiga this season, but I like Rüdiger's character, leadership, threat from set pieces and athleticism. I think Rüdiger and Martínez might be too similar to pick together, and I love what Cubarsí brings to the team in terms of his passing. I went for Rüdiger and Cubarsí, though I accept it's harsh on Martínez.
Marsden: To accompany Pedri in midfield, it's two players from three for me again: Valverde, Frenkie de Jong and Bellingham. De Jong might get the nod on recent form, but over the course of the whole season, it's probably Valverde and Bellingham. Plus, there's Bellingham's ability to play as a No. 10.
For various reasons, none of Dani Olmo, Gavi, Fermín López, Eduardo Camavinga, Aurélien Tchouaméni or Dani Ceballos makes it for me.
Kirkland: Midfield has been another of Madrid's weak points this season. Ceballos has been surprisingly important for them, but that role in this team is taken by Pedri. I'd put Valverde alongside him, despite the temptation to pick him at right back -- I just think he brings so much to the team in midfield. And I agree, De Jong has made a case lately. But I think Pedri and Valverde would complement each other brilliantly, in and out of possession.
I was higher on Bellingham earlier in the season -- I think at times he looked an even better all-around player than in his debut campaign, just with fewer eye-catching goals -- and I think he has looked frustrated and tired lately, but he's still getting in.