Five reasons to believe FC Barcelona can win the Spanish Super Cup
It's Spanish Super Cup time! And that means the first chance for FC Barcelona to lift a trophy this season. Last year's league champions Real Madrid, and the two cup finalists, Athletic Club and Mallorca, will have plans of their own, but the Catalans can feel quietly confident as things get under way in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. And here are five of the main reasons why.
1. Trident back
There is no question that Hansi Flick has an awesome squad under his charge. It's been an up and down campaign so far, but when the German coach has had all of his main men available, Barça have been producing some extraordinary results. The big news is that Lamine Yamal has travelled to the Middle East. He has yet to be declared fully fit, but the announcement is imminent, and the hope is that he will be able to play some part in the competition. If he does, then his presence alongside Raphinha and Lewandowski will strike fear into opponents. What's more, the Brazilian is fully rested after skipping the cup match with Barbastro, where the Pole showed that he hasn't lost any of his killer touch, scoring twice in that game.
2. It's already been done
This season, Barça have already played the three teams that they could meet in Jeddah, and they won each time. They beat Athletic Club 2-1 at the Estadi Olimpic, and now meet the Basques in the semi-final. Meanwhile, Barça achieved huge wins against the two potential finalists, and away from home. They beat Real Madrid in extraordinary fashion at the Bernabéu, 4-0, and also racked up a massive score away to Mallorca, a 5-1 victory at Son Moix.
3. History on their side
The Spanish Super Cup has existed since 1983, and Barça have an admirable track record in the competition. No club can match their 14 titles, although Real Madrid are just one behind on 13. So, for Barça it's important to win a 15th trophy to ensure they stay comfortably on top of the all-time table.
4. Hansi Flick doesn't lose finals
If Barça can make it into Sunday's final, they have the reassurance of knowing that their coach is a specialist in finals. In his time at Bayern Munich, he never lost a single one. The most famous was the Champions League of 2020 against PSG (1-0), but he also won the European Super Cup against Sevilla (2-1) and a Clubs World Cup against Tigres of Mexico (1-0). Domestically, he was also successful in the German Cup Final against Bayer Leverkusen (4-2) and the German Super Cup against Borussia Dortmund (3-2).
5. Anniversary motivation
This is no ordinary season for Barça. In their 125th anniversary season, they are hungrier than ever to celebrate trophies, especially after finishing 2023/24 empty handed. The Super Cup is already within their grasp, and would be the ideal boost for morale as the season heads into its definitive stretch, with both La Liga and the Champions League still very winnable indeed.