Real Madrid and Barcelona are poised to compete in the Supercopa de España (Spanish Super Cup) final in Saudi Arabia on Sunday (January 14).
Having invested significantly to host the tournament in Saudi Arabia, organisers will be content to witness Spain's two prominent clubs vie for the coveted title.
Madrid dramatically defeated city rivals Atletico Madrid 5-3 in their semi-final, while Barca secured a smoother path to the final, dispatching Osasuna 2-0 with goals from Robert Lewandowski and Lamine Yamal.
With Los Blancos presently holding a seven-point lead over La Blaugrana in La Liga, Xavi's side requires a victory to bolster momentum and belief as the second half of the season is well underway.
Prediction
Madrid emerged victorious in the inaugural Clasico of the La Liga season, despite Barcelona squandering numerous excellent opportunities and arguably deserving the win.
Should Lewandowski persist in his recent struggles, Barca could potentially rely on the additional firepower of the young Brazilian, Vitor Roque, from the bench. However, Ancelotti's side has suffered only one defeat throughout the season and is poised to capitalise on their great rivals' vulnerabilities in Saudi Arabia, aiming to secure the Supercopa de Espana for the 13th time.
Prediction: Real Madrid 2-1 Barcelona
Team News
Madrid have grappled with defensive injuries throughout the season, and this predicament is expected to persist until the concluding weeks of the campaign. Thibaut Courtois and David Alaba will remain sidelined for the entire season, while Eder Militao's return is not anticipated until April. Additionally, the valuable Lucas Vazquez is unavailable until February.
Consequently, the starting lineup is anticipated to closely resemble, if not exactly replicate, the one that triumphed over Atletico in the semi-final. However, there is a possibility of Eduardo Camavinga stepping in for Luka Modric.
Barca encountered a setback in the semi-final as Brazilian forward Raphinha sustained a hamstring injury, rendering him unavailable for the final. Xavi faces several uncertainties, with Pedri, Marcos Alonso, Inigo Martinez, and Joao Cancelo all undergoing fitness assessments to determine their readiness for the starting lineup.
Pedri, having come off the bench against Osasuna, is a potential starter in the final, but Martinez and Cancelo are likely to be on the bench. Marc-Andre ter Stegen and Gavi are sidelined with long-term issues.
Head-to-Head
Real Madrid currently hold a slight advantage in the overall head-to-head record against Barcelona. Los Blancos have secured 104 victories compared to Barcelona's 100, with 51 matches ending in draws throughout the history of El Clasico.
The Whites have emerged victorious in the last two encounters between the sides. This includes a 2-1 triumph in La Liga earlier this season and a 4-0 win in the second leg of their Copa del Rey semi-final last April.
Barcelona's most recent success against Real Madrid came in a 2-1 victory in La Liga last March. Additionally, they defeated their rivals 3-1 in the final of the Spanish Super Cup held in Saudi Arabia last year.
In the Spanish Super Cup, these two teams have faced each other 16 times, with Real Madrid leading the head-to-head record with nine wins to Barcelona's five. Only two matches ended in draws.
Predicted Lineups
Real Madrid predicted lineup vs Barcelona (4-3-1-2): Kepa; Carvajal, Rudiger, Nacho, Mendy; Valverde, Tchouameni, Camavinga; Bellingham; Rodrygo, Vinicius.
Barcelona predicted lineup vs Real Madrid (4-3-3): Pena; Kounde, Araujo, Christensen, Balde; Pedri, Gundogan, De Jong; Yamal, Lewandowski, Felix.
