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Vicente Calderon to host Spanish Cup final

Xinhua, February 23, 2016 Adjust font size:

Atletico Madrid's Vicente Calderon Stadium will be the venue for the final of the King's Cup knockout competition between Sevilla and reigning Cup holders FC Barcelona on May 22nd.

The Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) made public its decision on Monday, confirming the news which had been expected after Real Madrid once again failed to offer their Santiago Bernabeu Stadium to host the game.

The Bernabeu has a capacity for 85,000 fans, around 30,000 more than the 55,000 capacity Calderon.

Reigning Europa League champions Sevilla had said they wanted to play in the Bernabeu, which was also Barcelona's preferred venue, but perhaps knowing that Real Madrid would not allow their ground to be used by their biggest rivals, representatives of Barcelona never made their preferences public.

Real Madrid failed to offer the Bernabeu for the 2013 Cup final between Barca and Athletic Club Bilbao, saying that the toilets needed renovating, and again refused to offer their ground again last May for what as a repeat of the 2013 final.

Another reason the Bernabeu cannot be used this year is that it will host a concert by Bruce Springsteen on the eve of the final of May 21st, although the concert was not announced until a week after Barca and Sevilla had booked their places in the final. Endit