The Spanish Super Cup final this Sunday, starting at 8:00 PM, features Barça and Real Madrid. A new clásico, the second of this season, where they compete for the first title of the year. Both teams come from easy wins against Mallorca and Athletic Club, matches that posed no difficulty for either side.
The referee for the match will be Jesús Gil Manzano, an Extremaduran official who has officiated for both teams many times. For the Madrid team, a total of 50 occasions with a record of 39 wins, six draws, and five losses. He has officiated the Catalan team 41 times, with a total of 26 wins, seven draws, and eight losses.
Regarding direct duels, he has officiated three League Clásicos, all of which have gone to the Madrid side (the last one in 2023).
How Barça Arrives
Flick's team clearly defeated the Bilbao team, a 2-0 that was at risk in the final minutes against the 'lions' attacks. While it's true there has been much commotion in recent weeks, the news of the CSD's provisional measure has calmed the waters. This means that both Dani Olmo and Pau Víctor may have minutes in this final, everything will depend on what the German coach decides.
In the pre-final press conference, Flick didn't want to clarify who will be the starting goalkeeper, as both are prepared. He also spoke about the previous match, that 0-4 which he believes should be "the reference." Finally, he wanted to clarify that he counts on Araújo and doesn't want him to leave because "he is one of the best defenders."
How Madrid Arrives
The Madrid team has won all the matches of this 2025, including the postponed match against Valencia and the Copa del Rey match. In the semifinals, it took a while to score the first goal, but as has been happening in recent matches, Bellingham paved the way to the final. While it's true the Englishman ended up slightly injured, it seems he will have no problem playing.
Another player who will be on the field is Vinícius, suspended for two matches after his expulsion in Mestalla. Valverde commented in a press conference that there's a sense of revenge in the locker room after the thrashing they received in La Liga. Ancelotti spoke about Barça's advanced line, as they have evaluated it and will have to find a way to counter it.
Match Keys
Sense of revenge: the Madrid team arrives at this final eager to make up for the last duel. That 0-4 hurt a lot in the capital of Spain,something Valverde commented on in the pre-match press conference. In this regard, the blaugranas will also want to show their level and make people forget about their poor performance in recent months.
First title: the Spanish Super Cup is perhaps the least important title of all those played. However, starting the year by winning a trophy doesn't guarantee anything, but it does create a very positive atmosphere within the team. Moreover, in such confrontations, you win and leave many doubts in your main rival.
Offside: one of the key aspects of the previous match was the number of times Barça left Madrid players in an illegal position. Ancelotti has talked about needing to counter it, and the key figure will be Bellingham. The Englishman's position, acting as that arriving midfielder, could be the antidote to the style Flick wants to implement.
Effectiveness: in the previous match, Mbappé was not very accurate, while Lewandowski and company took advantage of every opportunity. Currently, the Frenchman is in better form than the Pole, at least in terms of shot effectiveness. The supporting players for the main forwards will be essential for them to shine, so we'll see which trio shines the most.