Estadio de la Cartuja Chosen as Unlikely Venue for the Next 3 Copa del Rey Finals

​Estadio de la Cartuja in Seville has been announced as the venue for the 2020 Copa del Rey final this season, as well as the finals in each of the next two seasons in 2021 and 2022 as well.

The 60,000-capacity stadium is a multipurpose venue, although it was originally built for the 1999 World Athletics Championships and has never been used as a full-time football ground.

It did, however, host the 2003 UEFA Cup final between Celtic and Jose Mourinho’s Porto, while the Spain national team has played a handful of friendlies there over the last 20 years.

La Cartuja has UEFA category four status, but the decision to use it for multiple Copa del Rey finals over the coming few years has raised eyebrows.

Spanish football writer Sid Lowe tweeted, “Spain has more than enough beautiful football stadiums to not have to play a cup final in a place like La Cartuja.”

Last year’s final between Valencia and Barcelona was also played in Seville, but at Real Betis’ Benito Villamarin. In recent years, it has also been held in Madrid at the Bernabeu, Vicente Calderon and newer Wanda Metropolitano, as well as Barcelona and Valencia.

Last season, Valencia ended Barcelona’s run of four consecutive titles by beating the Catalans in the final. Both clubs have reached the quarter-final stage of this year’s competition, with Real Madrid, Villarreal and Athletic Club also among those in the last eight.

Atletico fell at the round of 32 last month when they were shocked by third-tier side Cultural Leonesa. Celta Vigo, Real Betis, Mallorca and Real Valladolid were also among La Liga sides knocked out by lower league opposition at that stage.

This week’s quarter-final ties will see Valencia travel to Granada, with Real Madrid hosting Real Sociedad and Barcelona visiting Athletic. Segunda Division side Mirandes, who are the only non-La Liga team left in the competition, host Villarreal.

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