Catalan Super Cup Preview: Barça v Girona

FC Barcelona will be looking to earn their second piece of silverware this season on Wednesday (6.45pm CET) at the Nova Creu Alta, Sabadell, as they face Girona for the Supercopa de Catalunya title.

WORLDWIDE KICK-OFF TIMES

History

The cup for teams from Catalonia was originally known as the Copa Generalitat when it was first contested in 1984, and became the Copa Catalunya in 1993.

It underwent a number of format changes over the years as it sought to accommodate FC Barcelona and RCD Espanyol in the system, who despite playing with under-strength teams still tended to dominate, winning nine and six editions respectively.

In 2014 a new competition was set up, the Supercopa de Catalunya, a single match between the two highest ranked teams in the country, while other clubs compete for the former trophy.

Until now this has always meant that Barça and Espanyol appear in the fixture, but this last year Girona finished one place above Espanyol in the Liga table and earned the right to appear in this year’s edition.

Girona are still chasing their maiden victory in any of the different guises of the competition.

Coverage

Our Match Center will be providing minute by minute coverage of all the action and at the same place you will also be able to listen to our LIVE commentary in English on Radio Barça.

Don’t forget that we will also have live updates in all of our different language Twitter accounts.

And on our official YouTube page from 9.15pm CET you will be able to watch the entire game in delay!

Previous editions

2014       FC Barcelona 1-1 RCD Espanyol (FC Barcelona won 4-2 on penalties)
2016       RCD Espanyol 1-0 FC Barcelona
2018       FC Barcelona 0-0 RCD Espanyol (FC Barcelona won 4-2 on penalties)

The venue

The 11,981 capacity Estadi de la Nova Creu Alta is the home of CE Sabadell FC, who were once a regular feature in La Liga but have not appeared in the top division since 1988. It was used for several football matches at the 1992 Olympic Games.

The ground was opened in 1967 with a friendly between Sabadell and Barça, and the blaugrana have returned 19 times since: seven times in the league, four in the Copa Catalunya and eight times for friendlies.

Head to head (last ten years)

2019       Liga        Girona 0-2 FC Barcelona
2018       Liga        FC Barcelona 2-2 Girona
2018       Liga        FC Barcelona 6-1 Girona
2017       Liga        Girona 0-3 FC Barcelona
2014       CC           FC Barcelona 3-2 Girona
2011       CC           FC Barcelona 2-1 Girona

Girona form guide

After a strong start in their second season in La Liga, Girona went for ten league games without a win and dropped to 17th. But wins away to Real Madrid and Rayo Vallecano in the last month have put some space between them and the relegation zone.

Team news

Cillessen, Todibo, Malcolm, Murillo, Prince, Alena, Umtiti, Iñaki Peña, Wague, Guillem, Chumi, Miranda, O. Busquets, Monchu, Collado, Riqui Puig, Abel Ruiz, Mujica and Kike Saverio are all in the squad, whilst Ter Stegen, N. Semedo, Piqué, I. Rakitic, Sergio, Coutinho, Arthur, Suárez, Messi, O. Dembélé, Lenglet, Jordi Alba, S. Roberto and Vidal have been left out because of a technical decision. Rafinha and Vermaelen are still injured.