FC Barcelona Vs. Real Madrid Spanish Super Cup Final Preview, Lineups
FC Barcelona and Real Madrid will go for broke and fight for the first piece of silverware on offer in 2024 when they meet in the Spanish Super Cup final in Riyadh on Sunday.
At a pre-match press conference, Barca coach Xavi Hernandez admitted he was “crazy” to beat Los Blancos in a Saudi episode of El Clasico, which is also a repeat of last season’s decider won 3-1 by his men.
“The team is very motivated, very excited. There is no better scenario for a footballer. Trying to put in a great performance: we have the example of last season, which is the ideal game,” Xavi said.
“Dominating the game, imposing our identity and dominating with the ball is the ideal scenario. We arrive a hair less in good shape than Madrid, that’s the reality. But it’s all 50/50 when the ball rolls. We’re where we want to be.”
“I’m playing for a title. I arrive more relaxed. We’ve shown that we have a winning project and Madrid is clearly hungry. They always are.
“Madrid reacts even more when they see a strong Barca that can compete with them. Tomorrow is an ideal scenario: I’m crazy about this title,” Xavi confessed.
To try and reclaim what was his maiden trophy after taking over from fellow club legend Ronald Koeman in 2021, Xavi will put Inaki Pena in goal supported by a back line of Alejandro Balde, Andreas Christensen, Jules Kounde and Ronald Araujo deployed at right back to try and stop Vinicius Jr.
In the center of the park, it is four midfielders as previously reported with Pedri the false left winger, Ilkay Gundogan and Frenkie de Jong the central pairing, and captain Sergi Roberto to the right.
In attack, Ferran and Robert Lewandowski must provide the goals.
As for Xavi’s opposite number Carlo Ancelotti, he quipped that Madrid “doesn’t play for revenge” and “always come out on top”.
“We’re going all out because that’s the demand of this shirt and this club. We don’t play for revenge. They’re a team we respect a lot, they’re strong. But the hunger is always the same. In every game,” Ancelotti stressed.
Again refusing to name his goalkeeper in a pre-match press conference that preceded Xavi’s, Ancelotti will go for Andriy Lunin.
Along the back line, it is Ferland Mendy, Nacho, Antonio Rudiger and Dani Carvajal that will try and stop Felix and Lewandowski.
Set to be booed once again for his comments about playing in Saudi Arabia, Toni Kroos teams up with Fede Valverde in midfield while Aurelien Tchouameni is behind them as a pivot.
Jude Bellingham is at the tip of the diamond as an attacking midfielder, while the Brazilian duo of Vinicius and Rodrygo attempt to cause Barca all kinds of bother.
FC Barcelona starting lineup: Pena; Balde, Christensen, Kounde, Araujo; Pedri, Gundogan, De Jong, Roberto; Ferran, Lewandowski
Real Madrid starting lineup: Lunin, Mendy, Nacho, Rudiger, Carvajal; Tchouameni, Kroos, Valverde, Bellingham; Vinicius, Rodrygo
