FC Barcelona’s favoritism examines Atlético’s doubts
Blaugranas, champions the last three editions, and red and white open the Spanish Women’s Super Cup in Butarque
MADRID, 21 Ene. (EUROPA PRESS) –
FC Barcelona and Atlético de Madrid will be in charge of opening this Wednesday (7:00 p.m./La 2) at the Butarque Stadium in the Madrid town of Leganés a new edition of the Iberdrola Spanish Super Cup, a tournament where the Catalan team starts as clear favorite to maintain its dominance, starting with a somewhat hesitant rival.
The ‘pepinero’ fiefdom once again hosts the fight for the first title of the 2024-2025 season, a competition that is celebrating its fifth edition, four of them won by Barça, once again the rival to beat, and the other precisely by their first rival, an Atlético that will try to surprise.
The team coached by Pere Romeu probably arrives in a great moment of play and ready to achieve its fifth title, fourth consecutive, in a Super Cup where its balance in the last three years is devastating with 25 goals for and only one against. Only Real Madrid has created problems for them in the 2022 (1-0) and 2023 (3-1 after extra time) semifinals.
But the only one capable of defeating FC Barcelona in this competition has been precisely Atlético de Madrid, who managed to eliminate the Blaugranas after a penalty shootout in 2021. They also stood up to them a year earlier in the semifinals (3-2 ), but the last time they met in this tournament, in the 2022 final, they were clearly overwhelmed (7-0).
The moods of the two teams are also different. The Catalan team, which has won all its games in the F League, which it already leads with a firm hand, has been gradually raising its level, especially since it suffered its only setback of the season, the defeat in the Champions League against Manchester City. After that setback, 16 consecutive victories, the last six without conceding, although the last one came ‘in extremis’, in San Mamés against Athletic Club by 0-2 and with the goals in the 90th and 94th.
On the other hand, the team led by Víctor Martín is not so positive after a very irregular end to the first round that has left them 19 points behind the lead and eight, with one more game, behind Real Madrid’s second place, and with Real Sociedad, with whom they are tied on points, and Athletic Club, who are three behind, fighting for the third place that gives access to the qualifying phase of the next Champions League.
And after a good start to the domestic campaign, the red and white team got stuck precisely after conceding their first league defeat, a clear 0-3 against Barça. From there, only two wins, one in the Queen’s Cup, in their next seven games, which shows that they are not at their best.
However, he can compensate for this with his good ability to compete in this type of encounter, although he also has a rival in front of him who ‘sharpens his teeth’ when he sees a trophy and who is not given to relaxation, although this year it seems a bit more earthly at the level of conceding in defense.
Pere Romeu seemed to rotate in ‘La Catedral’ where Alexia Putellas, Ewa Pajor, Patri Guijarro and Irene Paredes were substitutes, who have options to return to the starting eleven along with Caroline Graham Hansen who has already recovered from her physical problems. Víctor Martín, for his part, did not give so many breaks in the draw (1-1) against Levante Badalona and trusts that the good moment of the talented Fiamma Benítez and Rosa Otermín, the experience of Lola Gallardo in goal, and the speed of Rasheedat Ajibade, help him give his rival a ‘long’ game.
TECHNICAL SHEET.
–POSIBLE ALIGNMENTS.
FC BARCELONA: Coll; Batlle, Paredes, León, Rolfö; Bonmatí, Guijarro, Putellas; Pina, Pajor and Graham Hansen.
ATLÉTICO DE MADRID: Gallardo; Moraza, Lauren, Lloris, Medina; Boe Risa, García; Ajibade, Benítez, Otermín; and Queiroz.
–REFEREE: Gil Soriano (C.Gallego).
–STADIUM: Butarque.
–TIME: 19.00/La 2.