FC Barcelona Look To Exorcise Super Cup Demons In Saudi Arabia

FC Barcelona will look to reverse their recent poor fortunes in the Spanish Super Cup when they head to Saudi Arabia this week.

The Catalans are the most successful team in the history of the competition having lifted the trophy 13 times, but they haven’t enjoyed much luck since its format was changed and it has mainly headed to the Middle East thanks to brokering from club legend Gerard Pique and his Kosmos company.

At the turn of 2020, Ernesto Valverde was famously dismissed after Barca lost a thrilling semi-final 3-2 to Atletico Madrid and eventually replaced by a Quique Setien that lasted a mere seven months in the role due to the 8-2 mauling suffered in the Champions League quarter-finals at the hands of Bayern Munich.

Club legend Ronald Koeman was in charge for the next edition where Barca came close by reaching the final. In Spain this time as the competition stayed on domestic shores due to the pandemic, Barca lost 3-2 in extra time to Athletic Club.

Last time round back in Saudi Arabia, Barca were topped in the semi-final with another 3-2 extra time loss to bitter rivals Real Madrid on this occasion.

Given that they were a work in progress, though, an outfit now on the orders of Xavi Hernandez was commended for its performance against Carlo Ancelotti’s men.

Heading into Thursday’s semi-final with Real Betis, Xavi has now had more than a year on the job and the expectation is for him to lift the trophy in Riyadh.

Though Barca are currently fighting for La Liga, landing a first piece of silverware as manager would help take pressure off the legendary midfielder and temporarily silence those who think he is not cut out for the demands of the position.

Victory could also be pointed to as a sign of progress should Barca come up short in the title race or the Europa League, and they go into the tournament replenished by the likes of Robert Lewandowski and Ferran Torres who won’t be banned despite their recent red cards in La Liga.

Furthermore, prize money for the winner which totaled €3.8mn ($4.08mn) last year is also of great interest to president Joan Laporta and his board.