Barcelona and Real Madrid bring the El Clasico to Spanish Super Cup final for a third year as the latter defend crown.
Who: Barcelona vs Real Madrid
What: Spanish Super Cup final
Where: King Abdullah Sports City Stadium in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
When: Sunday, January 11, at 10pm local time (19:00 GMT)
How to follow: We will have all the buildup on media Sport from 15:00 GMT, in advance of our text commentary stream.
One of sport’s greatest matchups will grace the King Abdullah Sports City Stadium in Jeddah on Sunday as Barcelona face fierce rivals Real Madrid in the final of the Spanish Super Cup.
Barca, the defending champions who beat Real in last year’s final, are the team to stop once more in Spain’s top flight, La Liga.
Real, on the other hand, are under increasing pressure, especially their new manager, Xabi Alonso.
media Sport takes a look at a final that carries so much more weight when it holds the tag: El Clasico.
Alonso has steadied Real Madrid’s ship in recent weeks after a tumultuous period, but the Spanish Super Cup final seems a make-or-break moment for the beleaguered coach.
On the brink of the sack after a dire run of form, Alonso responded by leading Madrid to five consecutive victories, the fifth coming on Thursday against Atletico Madrid in the semifinals.
Beating Super Cup holders Barcelona would bring Alonso the first trophy at the helm.
A second victory in two matches against Barcelona would buy Alonso time and breathing room.
But succumbing to Hansi Flick’s side would give Real president Florentino Perez a further excuse to remove a coach he hired in June but has never appeared convinced by.
Spanish media reported that Perez was set to sack Alonso if the team lost against Manchester City in the Champions League on December 10, which they did, but the team’s improved performance bought the coach another chance.
Barcelona trounced Real Madrid 5-2 in last year’s final, which was also in Jeddah.
It was a damaging blow for then-manager Carlo Ancelotti, while proving a springboard for Hansi Flick – fresh in his role as Barca boss.
Lifting the Super Cup worked for Flick’s fledgling tenure at Barcelona last season, galvanising his team to claim La Liga and the Copa del Rey.
In the three seasons prior to that, the Super Cup winners also went on to win the Spanish top flight.
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