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José Manuel Andrés
Madrid
Sábado, 11 de enero 2025, 19:25
After a frenetic week of controversies, where sports took a back seat due to the 'Olmo case', Joan Laporta's scandals, and the disputes surrounding Vinicius, the classic takes centre stage to crown the champion of the Spanish Super Cup in Saudi Arabia.
The tense start to the year off the pitch adds intrigue to the third consecutive final between Real Madrid and Barça. Despite the initial challenges faced by both giants in meeting each other in this tournament on Arabian soil, where the Federation moved the competition in 2020 for a substantial sum, with the classic as the main attraction.
Surely, the clash of giants will spark the interest of the Saudi public for a tournament that has so far failed to fill the stands. In Jeddah, where the Super Cup semi-finals did not excite, the echoes of the numerous controversies surrounding a classic with a title at stake have reached, which is never a minor affair.
The hypothetical presence of Dani Olmo adds intrigue after the noise and controversy regarding the Catalan player's re-registration, facilitated by an urgent precautionary measure granted by the Superior Sports Council (CSD) to Barça, overturning the Federation and LaLiga's refusal to grant the license based on their financial control regulations.
It remains to be seen whether Hansi Flick will start with the Spanish international or use him as a substitute, maintaining the starting eleven with Gavi in the attacking midfield that convincingly defeated a lacklustre version of Athletic. The uncertainty in the playmaker position unexpectedly extends to the goal, where tardiness cost Iñaki Peña his place in the semi-final in favour of Szczesny, who seized the opportunity to claim another in the final.
Despite the lopsided result, Madrid struggled more against Mallorca, who conceded in stoppage time in another slow-paced duel, a hallmark of both encounters seemingly related to the competitive return after the prolonged Christmas break in Spain and the climatic contrast with Saudi Arabia at this time of year. No surprises are expected in the white eleven, a point even Ancelotti dismissed in the pre-match, pointing to the initial line-up of the semi-final duel.
The reigning La Liga champion has yet to excite but has improved significantly thanks to Bellingham's best version, and this season has already added the European Super Cup and the Intercontinental Cup to its trophy cabinet, like the Spanish Super Cup, titles that do not serve to evaluate the season of a team of such demands but help to calm the spirits and offer stability in the environment.
Precisely the 0-4 of the league classic at Santiago Bernabéu agitated the Chamartín atmosphere and even seriously questioned Madrid's project this season. As Ancelotti himself confessed at the time, that was the worst moment of the entire year 2024 for the Italian coach, aware despite everything of the unpredictability of these matches, whose swings in results he attributes to the primacy of individual quality over tactical order.
That resounding Blaugrana assault in hostile territory, which also halted a trend of up to four consecutive Madrid victories in the classics, culminated a brilliant start to the campaign at Can Barça, which few expected and which prompted the physical and tactical transformation driven by Flick after the disappointing end of the Xavi era, the explosion of Lamine Yamal, and the goal-scoring return of veteran Lewandowski.
Opposite, a sumptuous team designed to frighten Europe with a champion block and the coveted signing of Mbappé as the crown jewel entered into doubt, with the Frenchman under scrutiny for his offside curse. It all pointed to a duel to consolidate trends, yet it turned out to be a turning point that reversed the upward trend of the culé team, which has since been much less reliable in the league, and forced Madrid into a tactical adjustment with Bellingham as a playmaker, which, along with their enormous firepower, has allowed them to string together good results.
It remains to be seen whether this classic with a title at stake and much noise around prolongs dynamics or changes them completely, but for a Barça mired in chronic disarray in the offices, snatching a trophy from the more stable eternal rival is a real injection of oxygen.
Real Madrid: Courtois, Lucas Vázquez, Tchouaméni, Rüdiger, Mendy, Valverde, Camavinga, Rodrygo, Bellingham, Vinicius, and Mbappé.
Barcelona: Szczesny, Koundé, Cubarsí, Iñigo Martínez, Balde, Casadó, Pedri, Lamine Yamal, Gavi, Raphinha, and Lewandowski.
Referee: Gil Manzano (Extremadura Committee).
Stadium: King Abdullah Sports City (Jeddah).
Time and TV: 20:00 h. Movistar Plus +.
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