A historic showdown to raise the curtain

A rivalry spanning centuries

Today’s match will be nothing less than the 246th meeting between the two sides, with a record of 125 wins for Barcelona, 40 draws, and 80 victories for the zurigorri. Focusing specifically on the Spanish Super Cup, Athletic and Barça have faced each other eight times — seven finals and one semifinal — with four wins for the Catalans, three for the Basque side, and one draw.

Four Super Cup champions have emerged from clashes between these two teams. In 1983, César Luis Menotti’s Barcelona lifted their first Super Cup after defeating Javier Clemente’s Athletic over two legs. In the first leg at San Mamés, goals from Alexanco, Carrasco, and Rojo tipped the balance in Barça’s favor, rendering Athletic’s narrow win at Camp Nou — courtesy of an Endika goal — insufficient.

In 2009, the Catalan side beat Athletic by an aggregate score of 5–1. After a tight win in Bilbao, Pep Guardiola’s team left no room for doubt at home, securing the Super Cup days before sealing a historic sextuple, making FC Barcelona the first club ever to achieve it.

In 2015, with Ernesto Valverde on the bench, Athletic Club ended a 31-year trophy drought by thrashing Barcelona 5–1. Aritz Aduriz, who scored four goals, became the hero for a red-and-white fanbase that brought the city of Bilbao to a standstill.

Six years later, in 2021 and under the new Final Four format, the Basque side once again overcame Barça, winning 3–2. Marcelino García Toral’s team equalized twice after goals from Griezmann, before Iñaki Williams sealed the victory in extra time with one of the most memorable goals in recent Super Cup history.

The most recent Super Cup clash between Barcelona and Athletic came on January 8, 2025 — almost a year ago — when Hansi Flick’s side booked their place in the final with a 0–2 semifinal win, thanks to goals from Gavi and Lamine Yamal. Barcelona went on to lift the trophy after defeating Real Madrid 2–5 in the final, consolidating their position at the top of the competition’s honors list with 15 titles.

A battle on the touchline

Ernesto Valverde, a former Barcelona player and coach, will face the Catalan side for the 37th time. Against Barça, Valverde-led teams have recorded five wins and nine draws.

Hansi Flick, meanwhile, has coached four matches against Athletic Club and boasts a perfect record of four wins. Their most recent encounter was last November, when Barcelona secured a 4–0 victory in a league match on Matchday 13.

The stage

The Alinma Stadium, located in the northern part of Jeddah, will host the opening match in the race to crown Spain’s next Super Cup champion. With a capacity of over 60,000 spectators, the venue within King Abdullah Sports City promises high drama, just as it did in the two previous Super Cups held there: 2020, won by Real Madrid CF, and 2025, when FC Barcelona lifted the trophy.

The refereeing team

Isidro Díaz de Mera will officiate the first semifinal on the pitch. At 36 years old, the referee from Daimiel (Castilla-La Mancha) has taken charge of Athletic Club matches on 12 occasions and FC Barcelona matches six times.

He will be assisted by Diego Santaúrsula and Rubén Campo on the sidelines, with Alejandro Quintero and Antonio Martínez acting as fourth and fifth officials, respectively. Jorge Figueroa will oversee VAR duties, assisted by Javier Iglesias (AVAR 1) and Adrián Cordero (AVAR 2).

The moment has arrived. The Spanish Super Cup raises the curtain on the finest spectacle in Spanish football. ⚽🔥