Atletico Madrid It will host the final on April 21st

The Estadio Wanda Metropolitano will host the final of the Copa del Rey for the first time on Saturday, April 21st.

With almost six months left, the Spanish Football Federation already have it clear that it will be the north Madrid stadium that will host the 117th final of the competition.

Atletico Madrid's new stadium is one of the best in Spain and its selection is helped by the good relationship between the club and the Spanish Football Federation.

Even before the gates to the stadium opened, the idea of hosting the cup final there this season was being suggested.

Three of the last six finals have been at the home of Atletico

The Metropolitano has it all to host the final, with a capacity of 68,000 and good transport links with Madrid and the rest of Spain.

Atletico have always been open to hosting the cup final, something that is not forgotten by the RFEF. Of the last six finals, three were held in the Estadio Vicente Calderon, where Barcelona won the last two.

Since1980 only Barcelona have won the cup at home

For the final this season, Sevilla also indicated that they would like to host the big event, but the RFEF have had the Metropolitano in mind for some time.

The game will be played at the weekend, and one in which league games will also be played for sides not competing in the final.

The arena has also put forward the suggestion that it could become a fixed host for the cup final. That would put an end to the annual debate which does not occur in any other top footballing nation.

In England there is Wembley, the Olympic Stadium in Berlin for Germany, the Stade de France for the French, the Olympic Stadium in Rome for Italy, the Amsterdam Arena for Holland, the National Stadium of Lisbon for Portugal and the King Baudouin Stadium for Belgium which are all national grounds, but Spain do not have such an arrangement.

That could be a relief for all and would be an important step to put Spain on a level with the world's most powerful footballing nations.

The Metropolitano, as UEFA have already proven with their choice of the ground as host of the Champions League final in 2019, can put an end to the uncertainty in Spain.

Since 1980 only Barcelona have won the cup at home

Atletico will want to live up to the challenge of being the first champions in their own stadium, but it won't be easy.

Since 1980, when Real Madrid beat their B team Castilla 6-1 in Estadio Santiago Bernabeu, only Barcelona have been able to win the tournament on home turf.

That came in 2015, when they beat Athletic Club by three goals to one. That victory was the first of three consecutive titles in the competition. If Valverde's side make it four this year, they will equal the records of Real Madrid (1905-1908) and Athletic Club (1930-1933).