As they prepare for Sunday’s encounter in Riyadh for the second year, the managers of Real Madrid and Barcelona regard the Spanish Super Cup final as an event that distinguishes out for both the prize on the line and the sports spectacle it provides.
The Super Cup’s second El Clasico final in a row will pit the LaLiga powers against one other on foreign territory for the third time in a year, after Barcelona won last January’s final 3-1 in Riyadh and Madrid 3-0 in a friendly in the United States in July.”It’s always exciting to prepare for this type of match… it’s going to be a great spectacle,” Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti said on Saturday.
Despite the fact that Madrid has had the upper hand in the rivalry this season, defeating Barcelona 2-1 in October and creating a seven-point lead at the top of the league, Barcelona manager Xavi Hernandez said that no one has an edge coming into the final.
“I believe Madrid is stronger when Barcelona is stronger.” Since I’ve been on the (Barcelona) bench, we’ve had to go above Madrid to win a championship. “Everything is very even,” he added.
“We will try to dominate the game, impose our personality, our way of playing, and dominate the ball… we have the example of last year and this is the ideal scenario to show it again.”
While Xavi was inspired by last year’s final, Ancelotti downplayed its significance.
“Real Madrid don’t go out for revenge, they go out to the limit because that’s the requirement of this shirt and this club,” stated the Spaniard.
“We’re just one step away from winning our first trophy of the season.” We’ll attempt to do what we have to do, which is win the championship.
“If we play better than Barcelona we’ll win in most cases, but I’d also be happy to win if we don’t deserve it so much.”