Nadal to face Ferrer in final

Spanish duo Rafael Nadal and David Ferrer will meet in the final of the Barcelona Open for the fourth time in five years on Sunday.

Top seed and reigning champion Nadal saw off ninth-seeded countryman Fernando Verdasco in convincing fashion 6-0 6-4 to reach his third final of the year.

However, Ferrer, the third seed, had a much tougher task of it against big-serving Canadian Milos Raonic, who knocked out second seed Andy Murray in the quarter-finals.

Ferrer was taken to tie-breaks in both sets against the 11th seed before winning through 7-6 (7/2) 7-6 (7/5) in two hours, five minutes.

Those results mean tomorrow's final will have a familiar look about it, with Nadal having beaten Ferrer here in 2008, 2009 and again last year.

World number two Nadal also lifted the Barcelona title in 2005, 2006 and 2007, and is looking to clinch his seventh crown here this weekend.

The clay-court king, who has won 10 of 11 meetings with Ferrer on that surface, told www.atpworldtour.com: "It's even more special to reach a final at home.

"I enjoy this tournament a lot. Tomorrow I will have to play perfectly to have a chance to beat one of best players in the world."

Nadal, who picked up his first tournament win of the season after defeating Novak Djokovic in the final in Monte Carlo earlier this month, added: "To win in Monte Carlo and to reach a final in Barcelona, no matter what happens tomorrow I have had a great start to the clay season."

Ferrer, the world number six, admits he has his work cut out to topple Nadal in the final, saying: "It will be difficult to beat Rafa on clay.

"I've lost the last three times to him on clay here, I hope it will be different for me tomorrow."