MADRID, 11 One. (EUROPA PRESS) –
Riyadh, capital of Saudi Arabia, will host from this wednesday to next sunday a new edition of the Spanish Super Cup under its ‘Final Four’ format, established since 2020, and which this time will bring together Atlético de Madrid, FC Barcelona, Athletic Club and Real Madrid.
Of this quartet, three, the Blaugrana team, the Madridista and the Biscayan, repeat with respect to the 2021 edition, disputed then in Andalusia by the coronavirus, while for the mattresses it will be their second participation after the first.
And of the four, only Real Madrid participates after not having won anything in the past season and as runner-up in LaLiga Santander 20202-2021, although as the theoretical favorite and rival to beat. Instead, Atlético de Madrid won the league title, Barça, the Copa del Rey, and Athletic, precisely the Super Cup, although they will compete at the Rey Fahd International Stadium as runner-up cup. We review the four teams that will fight for the first official trophy of the campaign.
1. Real Madrid.
Rival: FC Barcelona.
Last participation: 2021: Eliminated in the semifinals by Athletic Club.
Moment: Designated by almost everyone as the favorite, above all because he has been the most regular of all and because he arrives as an outstanding leader of the League, where only Sevilla manages to follow his train. He has only lost three games this year, but the last one was not too long ago, last January 2 against Getafe, and in addition to being the best offensively with 45 goals scored (with one more game), he is also managing to fit little (18). He has won all four of his games against his three rivals and the Classic will serve to re-measure their competitiveness in big events and to strengthen their morale.
History in the competition: The Madrid team seeks his twelfth title of the Super Cup and the first for Carlo Ancelotti, who the only time he played it he lost to Atlético, then in a double game. His last title was in 2020, at the premiere of the new format, after eliminating Valencia and defeating Atlético on penalties.
Key player: Vinicius. The Brazilian winger is ‘sweet’ and is forming a lethal couple in attack with Benzema. Barça will have to avoid leaving spaces for him to run, although he will face a ‘bone’ like his compatriot Dani Alves.
2. FC Barcelona.
Rival: Real Madrid.
Last participation: 2021: Loss in the final against Athletic Club.
Moment: The blaugrana team hopes that the Super Cup will serve them this time definitive platform for Xavi Hernández’s project. The Catalan coach is optimistic and his team seems to have shown signs of improvement despite the fact that the results have not been entirely positive and he is already 17 points behind Real Madrid in LaLiga Santander. However, the first match may be a before and after for everything that surrounds and arrives recovering many players called to be important as is the case of Ansu Fati. In his must, his problems to score (31 goals) and not to concede or concede. They have not beaten any of their three rivals, with losses to Real Madrid and Atlético.
History in the competition: Barça is the most awarded with a total of 13 trophies and Xavi Hernández seeks to release his record as a ‘culer’ coach in a competition that he won six times. The last title was in 2018 when they beat Sevilla 2-1 in a one-game final held in Morocco.
Key player: Busquets. Waiting for what Xavi Hernández may have, the Badia midfielder seems the most regular this season and he remains the ‘compass’ of his team and the one that makes it work in the best possible way. His ‘battle’ with the Madrid midfield will be one of the centers of attention.
3. Atlético de Madrid.
Rival: Athletic Club.
Last participation: 2020: Loss in the final on penalties against Real Madrid.
Moment: The current champion of LaLiga Santander arrives in Saudi Arabia sunk in a sea of doubts after a first stretch of the campaign where he has not given his most solid version. The defense of the title has been complicated for him and he is 16 points behind his neighbor (with one game less) and he has barely been able to string together victories to strengthen his confidence. Simeone does not find the key and the mattresses they miss Luis Suárez’s goals from last season and his reputed solidity behind, with 24 goals conceded, one less than in the whole of last season. In addition, he has important casualties such as those of Griezmann and Savic, and he has only won, and has scored, against Barça of his rivals.
History in the competition: Atlético only has two Spanish Super Cups in his record, in 1985 against FC Barcelona, and in 2014, against Real Madrid.
Key player: Correa. The Argentine is the one who seems to arrive more in tune at this moment after scoring three goals in the last two games. The loss of Griezmann favors him to be a starter again and maintain his good moment.
4. Athletic Club.
Rival: Athletic.
Last participation: 2021: Champion after defeating FC Barcelona in the final.
Moment: The Biscayan team may arrive again as ‘covered’ to the defense of his title as he possibly did last year when he was able to surprise Real Madrid and then come back and beat Barça. Marcelino García’s team is not achieving regularity in the results, weighed down somewhat for his lack of goal (20 in 21 games), but he appears in Riyadh as the best defensively, with 17 goals conceded. This year they have only lost their two league games to Real Madrid and drew with Atlético and FC Barcelona, and in their favor they will have the theoretical greater pressure that their rivals do have.
History in the competition: The Basque team has three Spanish Super Cups in its trophy cabinet. To that of last year he adds that of 2015, also against FC Barcelona, and that of 1984, in which he was automatic champion for his League-Cup double.
Key player: Iñaki Williams. The forward was the hero of last season’s title with his great goal in extra time and continues to be the main offensive reference for the ‘Lions’. If you are correct in front of goal, your team’s options will go up.