Athletic Club and Barcelona meet on Wednesday in the semi-final of the Spanish Super Cup at the King Abdullah Sports City in Jeddah. The Basque team is present in Saudi Arabia as reigning Copa del Rey champions while the Catalans came second in La Liga and therefore also qualified for this last four.
Ernesto Valverde’s men are competing in the four-team format for the third time and won the Copa del Rey last season against RCD Mallorca. Los Leones needed penalties to triumph and lift the trophy for the first time in 40 years. Success here could mean a fourth Super Cup success and their second as a four-club competition given they also won it in 2021. Athletic edged Barca in extra time last year, but didn’t has not beaten Balugrana in normal times since the start of 2020.
Barcelona edged out Barbastro in the Copa del Rey while Athletic beat Logrones with Robert Lewandowski’s double as well as goals from Eric Garcia and Pablo Torre helping Hansi Flick’s side. The Catalans are back in La Liga against Getafe later this month and could claim their 15th Spanish Super Cup title here, which would be their second in the four-team era. Barca have qualified in their last two semi-finals, beating Real Betis on penalties in 2023 before a 2-0 victory over Osasuna in 2024.
Here are our storylines, how to watch the game and more:
How to watch and odds
- Date: Wednesday January 8 | Time: 2 p.m. ET
- Location: King Abdullah Sports City – Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
- Watch: ESPN Sports | Flow: Fubo (try for free)
- Odds: Athletic +290; Draw +270; Barca -118
This season so far
Valverde’s side are unbeaten in 15 games in all competitions, including six wins and four draws in 10 La Liga matches, to sit fourth, just two points behind third-placed Barca. Holders Athletic were tight in the Copa del Rey but progressed on penalties past Logrones while Barca also progressed in the cup. Flick’s men have won just one of seven La Liga games at the end of 2024, which has seen them slip to third in the table behind Atletico Madrid and five behind Real.
Team News
Athletic: Yeray Alvarez, Inigo Ruiz de Galarreta and Oihan Sancet are all doubts while Valverde is expected to make changes, including Unai Simon, Andoni Gorosabel, Dani Vivian and Yuri Berchiche, all starters. Benat Prados and Mikel Jauregizar could also start, while Nico and Inaki Williams should occupy Athletic’s flanks.
Possible Athletic XI: Simon; De Marcos, Vivian, Paredes, Berchiche; Jauregizar, Prados; I. Williams, Berenguer, N. Williams; Guruzeta.
Barca: Dani Olmo and Pau Victor traveled despite registration problems while Hector Fort and Andreas Christensen are expected to take the bench after their recovery. Ferran Torres is doubtful but Lamine Yamal should return for Flick with Inaki Pena, Pau Cubarsi, Alejandro Balde, Gavi and Raphinha also in contention.
Possible Barça XI: Punishment; Koundé, Cubarsi, Martinez, Baldé; Casado, Pedri; Raphinha, Gavi, Fermin; Lewandowski.
Prediction
Expect this one to be close and possibly go beyond 90 minutes, but ultimately Barcelona should have enough to edge out Athletic for a place in the final. Take: Athletic 1, Barça 2.
