PREVIEW: Athletic Club v FC Barcelona

Two victories. That's all FC Barcelona need to win the first available trophy this season, the Spanish Super Cup. The blaugranes are over in Yeddah in Saudia Arabia with eyes on the prize, and the first hurdle to overcome is none other than Athletic Club. This knock-out tie between the Basques and the Catalans is one of the most played matches in Spanish football's history, particularly in the Copa del Rey, but in the Spanish Super Cup too.

First ever match in Saudi Arabia

All the same, despite having faced each other seven times in this competition – three times with a home and away final and once at a neutral ground in Seville (in 2021 due to COVID-19 restrictions) – they are yet to do so in Saudi Arabia. This is now the fifth edition of the tournament in the country, and the historic rivalry is set to play out away from Spain. The task is even more complicated as Hansi Flick's side are facing knockout tournament specialists, with Athletic Club arriving at Yeddah as Copa del Rey champions testament to just that.

Recent LaLiga evidence tips the balance towards the blaugranes

Barça came out on top during the most recent meeting between the sides the season, however. It was the LaLiga matchday two fixture at the Estadi Olímpic, with Lamine Yamal and Robert Lewandowski scoring the goals in a 2-1 win. Key figures looking to swing the balance back in the Basque side's favour will be the Williams brothers, Vivian, and Unai Simón, all good players coached by an old friend in Ernesto Valverde, for whom the match also throws up curiosities.

Not the first meeting with Valverde

It's always a special occasion when his sides play Barça, but the match also being played in Yeddah allows some particular parallels to be drawn. In the same stadium where he will be on the bench for the Basque side on Wednesday, four years ago tomorrow will be the day he did the same as Barça coach for the final time. The loss in that 2020 Super Cup semi-final against Atlético de Madrid proved to be final time in charge of Barça for the coach nicknamed Txingurri.

Four years later, on the same stage, and in another semi-final, the paths cross once again. The prize is a ticket to the final, the winners of which will lift a trophy.