It is in Saudi Arabia that Athletic Bilbao and FC Barcelona will meet this Wednesday, to play the first semi-final of the Spanish Super Cup. After both teams qualified for the next round in the Copa del Rey last weekend, a first trophy awaits them on January 12. Find out everything there is to know about this enticing poster right here.
Hansi Flick’s FC Barcelona is having a season of ups and downs. After a mixed end to 2024, especially in La Liga, the Catalans can launch this new year in the best possible way: with a trophy. A Spanish Super Cup which could be Barça’s first title this season, for this it will be necessary to qualify against Athletic Bilbao, and continue after qualifying for the Copa del Rey obtained without difficulty on Saturday (0-4), against at Unión Deportiva Barbastro, playing in the third national level.
Qualification which was much less obvious for the Basques in the Copa del Rey. Ernesto Valverde’s men, held to a draw (0-0) by Unión Deportiva Logroñés, also a resident of the third division, went through penalties to earn their ticket to the round of 16 of the competition. We will have to show a completely different face this Wednesday to hope to play in the final of this Spanish Super Cup.
Information on Athletic Club Bilbao and its injured
Oihan Sancet and Iñigo Ruiz de Galarreta should be absent on the Basque side for this meeting.
XI probable : Simon – Gorosabel, Vivian, Paredes, Berchiche – Prados, Jauregizar – I. Williams, Berenguer, N. Williams – Cruzeta
Information on FC Barcelona and its injured
Marc André Ter-Stegen, Andreas Christensen and Marc Bernal, long injured, are still unavailable. Lamine Yamal, Hector Fort and Raphinha are returning and traveling to Saudi Arabia. Dani Olmo and Pau Victor, whose registration is still not possible, will be present in Jeddah, without being able to play any match there.
XI probable : Pena – Koundé, Cubarsi, Martinez, Balde – De Jong, Gavi – Yamal, Pedri, Raphinha – Lewandowski.
At the end of a hard-fought match, Barça should still secure their ticket for the Spanish Super Cup final on January 12. The Catalans would potentially challenge Real Madrid, for a first Classico in this year 2025.
If FC Barcelona qualified without much difficulty on Saturday for the round of 16 of the Copa del Rey, the Blaugrana owe it to a hat-trick from the inevitable Robert Lewandowski. The Pole started with great fanfare this year 2025, and could be the X factor for Barça against Bilbao on Wednesday.
He was the subject of one of the soap operas of the last summer transfer window. Nico Williams was indeed associated with FC Barcelona for many weeks, before finally continuing the adventure in the Basque Country. Facing what could be his future club, the Spanish winger should, as often, be the centerpiece of Athletic Bilbao, and cause many problems for the Catalans.
