This Sunday, the Spanish Supercopa final will be held in the Estadio de La Cartuja in Seville. The finalists who will compete for this award are FC Barcelona and Athletic de Bilbao. Can the Barcelona coach Ronald Koeman with players like Frenkie de Jong, beat the Real Madrid killer or does Athletic de Bilbao also grab the Catalans by the throat? What are your predictions for FC Barcelona – Athletic de Bilbao?
Ronald Koeman: “Athletic Bilbao is a physically strong team”.
Most of us will have predicted in advance that FC Barcelona will face arch-rival Real Madrid in the final of the Spanish Super Cup. Nothing turned out to be further from the truth because it is not Los Blancos but Athletic de Bilbao that will be in Seville’s final on Sunday. FC Barcelona coach Ronald Koeman: “Athletic de Bilbao is a physically strong team, which often shows its true strength. It will be an interesting final because both teams want to play football”, says Koeman in his preview on Sunday.
“We are committed to profit”.
Winning the Supercopa is not the most important prize for trainer Koeman. “Not the most important, there are more important prizes. But we play a final, and we go for it. We will play with the best team on Sunday. We will have to play well to win,” said Koeman in his press conference.
Statistics
FC Barcelona took on Real Sociedad in the semi-final. The trainer Koeman team played 1-1 in regular time, partly thanks to a goal by Frenkie de Jong. After penalties, Barça has crowned finalist by beating Real Sociedad.
Athletic de Bilbao managed to beat Real Madrid nicely. Coach Toral’s team quickly took the lead with Raul Garcia’s goal and penalty. The goal of Real Madrid player Karim Benzema could not repair the damage: 1-2.
Head 2 Head
On January 6 this year, Athletic de Bilbao and FC Barcelona still played against each other. The team of trainer Koeman won the league game in the nick of time in Estadio San Mamés in Bilbao with 2-3. Yet FC Barcelona does not keep good memories of Bilbao’s team when it comes to a cup tournament. Last year, Athletic de Bilbao won the quarter-finals of the Copa del Rey 1-0 against Barça, and the Catalans will undoubtedly not have forgotten that when they take on each other again on Sunday.
