SPANISH SUPER CUP PREVIEW: Real Betis v FC Barcelona
After the 1-0 win away to Atlético Madrid left FC Barcelona three points clear at the top of the Liga table, attention is now temporarily diverted towards another competition and the chance to win the first major silverware of the Xavi Hernández era. The Catalans are playing for the Spanish Super Cup, for which they qualify as last year's Liga runners-up, and the team they'll meet in Thursday's semi-final is the current champion of the Copa del Rey, Real Betis.
The first semi-final has already been played and following a 1-1 draw with a valiant Valencia side, Real Madrid won on penalties and is the side that awaits the winners of this game in the grand final on Sunday.
The King Fahd Stadium in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, is the venue for the event this time round. Kick-off is 10pm local time, 8pm CET.
Team news
Xavi has taken 24 players on the trip, although two names will have to be dropped from the definitive squad for the game. The players he has to choose from are: Ter Stegen, Bellerín, Araujo, Sergio, Dembélé, Pedri, Lewandowski, Ansu Fati, Ferran, Iñaki Peña, Memphis, Christensen, Marcos Alonso, Jordi Alba, Kessie, S. Roberto, De Jong, Raphinha, Kounde, Eric, Balde, Gavi, Pablo Torre and Arnau Tenas.
One person for whom the game is going to especially memorable is Sergio Busquets, who is set to become just the third player ever to make 700 official appearances for the team. The only others to reach such an impressive milestone are Leo Messi and the current coach, Xavi Hernández.
Head to head
The last 20 meetings between the side have all been in the league, and Barça have only been beaten twice in those games. The first time it happened was in that extraordinary game in 2018 when Betis won 4-3 at what is now called the Spotify Camp Nou, and the other was last season, also at home, and which spelled the first defeat of the Xavi era.
Earlier this season, Barça were 2-1 victors at the Benito Villamarín, with Jordi Alba securing the three points in spectacular style with a goal four minutes into injury time.
Date with history
Barça may have won this title a record 13 times, but they are still looking for the first victory since the competition was revamped as a four-team event.
As for Betis, it's only the second time they have ever featured. In 2005 they also qualified as Copa del Rey champions, but lost 4-2 to Barça in the days when the Super Cup was played over two legs before the start of the official league season.
Betis form guide
Under Chilean coach Manuel Pellegrini, the green-and-whites have been enjoying a rebirth after many years living in the shadow of the success of their city neighbours Sevilla. Last season they won the Copa del Rey, their first major honour in 17 years, and this season they have been going nicely in the league, currently lying in fourth place and dreaming of Champions League football next term.
For this game they will be missing defender Àlex Moreno, who has stayed in Spain to work out his future.
There are plenty of familiar faces in the Betis squad. Goalkeeper Claudio Bravo enjoyed plenty of success as a blaugrana, and Juan Miranda, Martin Montoya and Rodri Sánchez all spent time at La Masia, with Montoya going onto make as many as 45 appearances for the Barça first team before heading to Betis via Inter Milan, Valencia and Brighton.
Xavi and Sergi Roberto on the final
"Betis are the defending cup champions and will be a very tough, skilful opponent" said coach Xavi in his pre-game press conference. Winning the Super Cup is obviously a huge matter for him, especially at it would be his first ever trophy in charge of the club, but even more importantly "it would be a huge boost for everyone's confidence."
Sergi Roberto also spoke to the media in Riyadh on Wednesday, saying "we are in fine form after going top of the table at the Metropolitano and we are very much looking forward to the Super Cup with this format. We haven't won it since the new system was introduced, and that's an added motivation. And we have young players who haven't won anything yet and it would be a boost for morale going into the rest of the season. A trophy midway through the season would be nice."