"The Blaugrana, who won the title last season by beating Real Madrid handsomely, will be eager to retain the trophy. For that to happen, they must first deal with Athletic Club tonight to secure a place in Sunday's final. Barcelona go into the game on the back of a strong run of results, racking up eight wins in a row in all competitions, most recently beating local rivals Espanyol 2-0 this past weekend."
"Meanwhile, the defensive line is unlikely to undergo any changes, as Jules Kounde and Alejandro Balde will occupy the full-back positions on the right and left sides, respectively. At the heart of the defence, we will see Pau Cubarsi pair up with makeshift centre-back Gerard Martin once again, who has done well in the role. However, the entire defensive line must step up to ensure that the Athletic attacking unit, led by the Williams brothers, has a quiet outing."
Barcelona face Athletic Club in the 2026 Spanish Super Cup semi-final in Saudi Arabia aiming to retain the title after winning last season. The team has an eight-match winning run across competitions, most recently a 2-0 derby win over Espanyol, though defensive aspects raised concerns. Barcelona previously beat Athletic Club 4-0 at the new Spotify Camp Nou this season, boosting confidence. Injuries have struck with Marc-André ter Stegen ruled out, Gavi unavailable and Ronald Araujo not ready. Joan Garcia will start in goal. Jules Kounde and Alejandro Balde will occupy full-back positions while Pau Cubarsi pairs with Gerard Martin at centre-back.
Read at Barca Universal
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