Barcelona and Real Madrid are set to rekindle their fierce rivalry in a high-stakes El Clasico showdown for the Spanish Super Cup title on Sunday on the King Abdullah Sports City stadium in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Having triumphed within the 2023 version with a commanding 3-1 victory over Real Madrid, Barcelona enter this 12 months’s closing in search of redemption for his or her crushing 4-1 defeat in 2024.
In their earlier victory, targets from Gavi, Robert Lewandowski, and Pedri secured a memorable title within the post-Messi period.
However, final 12 months’s loss was marked by a Vinicius Jr. hat trick and a Rodrygo strike, leaving Barcelona with a bitter style and a renewed starvation to reclaim the crown.
Barcelona earned their spot within the closing by defeating Athletic Bilbao 2-0 within the semifinals, with Gavi and Lamine Yamal discovering the online.
This 12 months’s Super Cup is not only a title on the road however a possibility for the Blaugranas to reassert dominance and break the current impasse in Super Cup victories between the 2 giants since its relocation to Saudi Arabia.
Barcelona’s tactical edge
With Dani Olmo and Pau Victor now registered and probably obtainable for the ultimate, Barcelona’s attacking choices have obtained a big enhance.
Olmo’s artistic presence and Victor’s versatility could possibly be essential because the group faces a Real Madrid facet discovering their rhythm in assault.
Meanwhile, Robert Lewandowski stays a key determine, having scored in Barcelona’s final El Clasico victory in October – a convincing 4-0 win the place he netted twice.
Defensively, Barcelona’s kind has been shaky, and this closing supplies a litmus take a look at for his or her backline in opposition to a Real Madrid assault bolstered by Jude Bellingham’s red-hot kind.
Barcelona’s success will depend upon their capability to neutralize Madrid’s forwards whereas capitalizing on their very own attacking firepower.
Real Madrid’s menace
Los Blancos enter the ultimate aiming for his or her third trophy of the season, having already secured the UEFA Super Cup and the Intercontinental Cup.
The stakes are notably excessive for Madrid, as a win would additional solidify Kylian Mbappe’s rising period as their new quantity 9.
Jude Bellingham, who has scored eight targets in his final 10 video games, might be one other pivotal determine for Los Blancos.
Madrid’s path to the ultimate noticed them dominate Mallorca 3-0, with Bellingham’s medical end main the cost, adopted by an personal aim and a late strike from Rodrygo.
However, issues linger over Aurelien Tchouameni’s availability after he was withdrawn attributable to a knock within the semifinal.
Source: www.dailysabah.com