Former Barcelona team mates Michael Laudrup and Ronald Koeman will be reunited on Wednesday when they lead out Getafe and Valencia respectively for the King's Cup final at the Vicente Calderon.



It's a competition they both know well, having collected winners medals together with Johan Cruyff's 'Dream team', when they helped Barca beat John Toshack's Real Madrid 2-0 in the 1990 edition.


In their first seasons in club management in Spain, they have steered their sides to the final, but both arrive for the fixture battered, bruised and in need of silverware, for completely different reasons.


Laudrup is on the brink of winning modest Getafe's first trophy, bringing them deserved recognition after a draining season of over-achievement. Koeman is looking to rescue something from a miserable campaign with Valencia, and hang on to his job.


Getafe carry the psychological scars of a heart-breaking exit from the UEFA Cup quarter-finals last Thursday, when a last-minute goal in extra-time denied them a famous victory over German giants Bayern Munich.


They reached the King's Cup final for the first time last season where they lost 1-0 to Sevilla, and are well aware that another impressive year could see them left empty-handed again.


'Football owes us one. This team deserves to win the cup,' Getafe midfielder Francisco Sousa said after Sunday's goalless draw with Real Zaragoza.


'This time we have learned to keep our feet on the ground and how to control the euphoria.'


Getafe have beaten Burgos, Levante, 2003 winners Real Mallorca and high-flying Racing Santander to reach their second consecutive final, playing attractive attacking football.


But two cup runs have taken their toll on the side lately. They have not won in seven matches in all competitions.


Laudrup has said that promising Argentine goalkeeper Oscar Ustari will play the final rather than his more experienced compatriot Roberto Abbondanzieri.


Defender Mario, midfielders Pablo Hernandez and Jaime Gavilan, and Nigeria striker Ikechukwu Uche are all out injured.

Koeman and six-times cup winners Valencia are nearing the end of a miserable Primera Liga season that could yet see them involved in the relegation battle with six games to go.


They lie 15th just five points above the bottom three.


A victory and a place in the UEFA Cup may be enough to save the under-fire Dutchman his job, with a club who have a squad built to compete in the Champions League and push for the league title.


Since replacing Quique Sanchez Flores at the beginning of November he has guided the side to just four wins in 21 league games.


His controversial decision to drop stalwarts David Albelda, Santiago Canizares and Miguel Angel Angulo won him few friends and the side's poor home form has had fans calling for his head.


But his counter-attacking tactics on the pitch have proved effective in the cup where they put out Real Union, Real Betis, Atletico Madrid and Barcelona to make the final.


'We have to try and forget about what has been happening in the league and enter the cup with a different dynamic,' midfielder Edu said after their 2-1 home defeat to Racing Santander on the weekend. It was their third loss in a row.


'We are in a delicate position but a cup win could help us to end the season on a high.'

This will be an amazing game like the one with Bayern. From the way Getafe & Valencia have been playing this season it's probably going to Getafe this time.

Should be an interesting game, you never know with Valencia, they have great players but as a team theyre just terrible. They can click every now and again though like against Barca in the semis.

Getafe will be on a downer from losing against Bayern but im sure a Cup Final is enough of an inpiration to be up for the game.

Ill go with 2-1 Getafe

0-1 Valencia


Would like to see getafe win but i feel valencia will win it and ronald will be on his way out the club

I would so love to see little Getafe win the cup, would be a great stroy. And i think they will, Valencia are so poor right now so its the best chance Getafe will ever get to win it.

2-1 Getafe for me, hoping De La Red gets one.

I would love getafe won the cup. Valencia is playing awful so they dont deserve it. It would be cruel for getafe doesnt win after seen in uefa cup and la liga. Getafe win and koeman out! 2-1 getafe

I like Valencia, i but i think Getafe deserve it more. It would be great for them to win it. Valencia did do well to get their, but they've been pathetic under Koeman. The sooner he gets sacked the better.

1-0 Valencia

2-0

Gayness

2-1 halftime

Forgot all about the game, well actually sky is broken in my house today for some reason so I cant watch it anyway.

Good to see Getafe getting a goal back, hopefully they manage to get another in the 2nd half. I can see it going to extra time yet

3-1 finished

Oh well did say Valencia would win. But bye bye Koeman.

Getafe been so good this season

Unlucky, 2nd season in a row theyve lost in the final. Ive lost all respect for Valencia this season but congratulations to them all the same

Unacceptably poor. Not sacking Koeman was a mistake. Now they are going to lose most of their star players and have to rebuild, instead of do what the intention was when appointing Koeman - build on top of the fantastic team they already have.

Theyre not exactly safe from relegation yet either, theyre 15th or so & need a few wins yet. It'd be a total disaster if they went down with all the money they spent & the wages theyre paying

More than a total disaster. It would be one of the biggest shocks ever.

That was pretty sad for Getafe, who were doing an excellent season but they were unlucky in the precise moments.