Who: Barcelona vs Actual Madrid
What: Spanish Tremendous Cup remaining
The place: King Abdullah Sports activities Metropolis Stadium in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
When: Sunday, January 11, at 8pm (19:00 GMT)
The right way to comply with: We may have all of the buildup on Al Jazeera Sport from 15:00 GMT, upfront of our textual content commentary stream.
One in all sport’s best matchups will grace the King Abdullah Sports activities Metropolis Stadium in Jeddah on Sunday as Barcelona face fierce rivals Actual Madrid within the remaining of the Spanish Tremendous Cup.
Advisable Tales
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Barca, the defending champions who beat Actual in final 12 months’s remaining, are the staff to cease as soon as extra in Spain’s prime flight, La Liga.
Actual, alternatively, are beneath rising stress, particularly their new supervisor, Xabi Alonso.
Al Jazeera Sport takes a take a look at a remaining that carries a lot extra weight when it holds the tag: El Clasico.
Why are Actual Madrid and Xabi Alonso beneath stress?
Alonso has steadied Actual Madrid’s ship in current weeks after a tumultuous interval, however the Spanish Tremendous Cup remaining appears a make-or-break second for the beleaguered coach.
Getting ready to the sack after a dire run of type, Alonso responded by main Madrid to 5 consecutive victories, the fifth approaching Thursday in opposition to Atletico Madrid within the semifinals.
Beating Tremendous Cup holders Barcelona would carry Alonso the primary trophy on the helm.
A second victory in two matches in opposition to Barcelona would purchase Alonso time and respiratory room.
However succumbing to Hansi Flick’s facet would give Actual president Florentino Perez an additional excuse to take away a coach he employed in June however has by no means appeared satisfied by.
Spanish media reported that Perez was set to sack Alonso if the staff misplaced in opposition to Manchester Metropolis within the Champions League on December 10, which they did, however the staff’s improved efficiency purchased the coach one other probability.
What occurred in final 12 months’s Tremendous Cup remaining between Actual and Barca?
Barcelona trounced Actual Madrid 5-2 in final 12 months’s remaining, which was additionally in Jeddah.
It was a dangerous blow for then-manager Carlo Ancelotti, whereas proving a springboard for Hansi Flick – recent in his position as Barca boss.
How necessary is Spanish Tremendous Cup to Actual Madrid and Barcelona?
Lifting the Tremendous Cup labored for Flick’s fledgling tenure at Barcelona final season, galvanising his staff to say La Liga and the Copa del Rey.
Within the three seasons previous to that, the Tremendous Cup winners additionally went on to win the Spanish prime flight.
“Two issues are clear – because it’s the match we’re enjoying for 1768083784, it’s crucial,” mentioned Alonso.
“If you happen to ask me about it by way of order of precedence within the season, it’s the fourth.”
What’s the most recent on Actual Madrid ahead Kylian Mbappe?
Actual are boosted by the return of Mbappe to the squad after he missed the 2-1 win over Atletico and Sunday’s 5-1 thrashing of Actual Betis in La Liga whereas recovering from a knee sprain.
The coach mentioned Mbappe has as a lot probability of beginning in opposition to Barcelona as anybody else and is assured the ahead has recovered, although he was anticipated to overlook one other week.
With 29 objectives in 24 appearances throughout all competitions, Mbappe is Actual Madrid’s prime purpose scorer this season and their clear, stand-out performer.
The striker has netted six objectives in opposition to Barcelona in 5 video games since becoming a member of Actual Madrid.
His return may make life trickier for Alonso as a result of the staff doesn’t appear to perform at its greatest when Mbappe, Vinicius Junior and Jude Bellingham line up collectively.
How are Actual Madrid’s Brazil forwards, Vinicius and Rodrygo, faring?
One participant who has turn out to be important for Alonso in current weeks is Brazilian winger Rodrygo.
After a depressing run of 32 video games with out scoring, the right-winger has burst into life with three objectives and three assists in his final 5 matches.
On the alternative flank, Vinicius is struggling for type.
Since ending second within the 2024 Ballon d’Or rankings, he has dipped removed from his prime degree.
Vinicius has not scored in his final 16 outings for Actual Madrid, and Alonso should determine whether or not to line up with him in opposition to Barca.
What occurred the final time Barcelona performed Actual Madrid?
The Catalans beat Madrid 4 occasions in 4 encounters final season, however Alonso’s facet beat their rivals 2-1 in October in La Liga.
“We’ve got to win; we misplaced two finals in opposition to them final 12 months,” urged Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois.
“They should win, too. After dropping the Clasico in La Liga, they’ll need revenge.”
Barcelona prepared for Mbappe return for Actual Madrid
Barcelona coach Hansi Flick mentioned Mbappe is the person of the second, however backed his staff to succeed regardless of his arrival in Saudi Arabia.
“In the meanwhile, Mbappe is the most effective striker… he’s scored many, many objectives, and he’s a world-class participant, that’s what I can say,” admitted Flick, whose facet hammered Real Betis 5-0 of their semifinal on Wednesday.
Nonetheless, the German coach was desirous to level out that final season, his facet beat Mbappe’s Madrid on all 4 events they met.
Barca thrashed them 5-2 in final season’s Spanish Tremendous Cup remaining, in addition to profitable each La Liga Clasicos and the Copa del Rey remaining.
Of their one assembly with Alonso’s facet this season, Madrid secured a 2-1 league win.
“What number of Clasicos have we performed within the final 12 months and a half? And what number of did we win? We misplaced one,” mentioned Flick.
“I do know he’s a implausible participant, and for him, with area behind the [defence], he’s actually nice…
“We’ll adapt one thing, like we all the time do, nevertheless it’s not particularly about Mbappe, it’s about Actual Madrid, it’s about how we need to play and the way we anticipate they need to.”
What’s the Spanish Tremendous Cup?
The Tremendous Cup pits collectively the winners and runners-up of each the Spanish home league, La Liga, and Spain’s home cup competitors, Copa del Rey.
Though first performed in 1982, between the league and cup winners alone, it was expanded to 4 groups in 2020.
Barcelona are the present league champions, with Actual Madrid ending second. They have been additionally the finalists of the Copa del Rey, leading to Athletic Madrid and Athletic Bilbao lining up within the semifinals, following their third and fourth-place finishes within the league final season.
The place will the Spanish Tremendous Cup remaining be performed?
The Tremendous Cup is being staged in Saudi Arabia for the second 12 months operating, with all three matches staged at King Abdullah Sports activities Metropolis Stadium in Jeddah.
The venue performs host to the Saudi Arabian nationwide staff, and can be a part of the 2034 World Cup.
Riyadh performed host to the ultimate the 12 months earlier than, with Actual Madrid rising victorious with a 4-1 defeat of Barcelona.
Head-to-head
This would be the 262nd assembly between the groups, with Actual Madrid profitable 106, and Barcelona profitable 104, of the encounters.
Barcelona staff information
Marc-Andre ter Stegen, Gavi and Andreas Christensen are all absent, with the latter two troubled by knee issues and the previous out with an unspecified grievance.
Yamal is predicted to return to the beginning eleven, having not been match sufficient to start out the semifinal in opposition to Atletico. The winger did, nonetheless, come off the bench to search out the online.
Ronald Araujo has returned to full coaching, however is barely anticipated to be named among the many subs.
Actual Madrid staff information
Whether or not Mbappe makes the staff sheet, at the same time as a starter or as a sub, is the headline information, following per week of hypothesis in regards to the ahead’s knee damage.
Trent Alexander-Arnold, Eder Militao and Brahim Diaz stay absent, however there’s a probability that Rodrygo, Antonio Rudiger and Raul Asencio may go health exams after knocks sustained within the semifinal in opposition to Atletico.
Dean Huijsen returned to the bench for the Atletico match and will return to the beginning eleven instead of Rudiger, ought to his fellow defender fail to make the grade.
Barcelona’s predicted beginning lineup
J Garcia, Kounde, Cubarsi, E Garcia, Balde, Pedri, De Jong, Yamal, Raphinha, Fermin, F Torres
Actual Madrid’s predicted beginning lineup
Courtois, Valverde, Asencio, Huijsen, Carreras, Camavinga, Tchouameni, Bellingham; Rodrygo, Mbappe, Vinicius
Barcelona and Actual Madrid type guides
- Barcelona: W-W-W-W-W
- Actual Madrid: W-W-W-W-W
