Real Madrid-FC Barcelona: The first title of the 'Flick era' is at stake in the Clásico

The stage is set. FC Barcelona and Hansi Flick are facing a golden opportunity to deliver the definitive authoritative blow and confirm themselves as the best team in Spain. Against Real Madrid and in the first final of the season, the culés aim to lift the first title of the German's project in the City of Barcelona against their eternal rival in a match not suitable for the faint-hearted.

The Catalan team hopes to achieve the long-awaited revenge after suffering a harsh defeat in the Supercopa de España 2024 final. In that match, the team led by Carlo Ancelotti claimed the trophy with a 4-1 victory, and although the blaugranas humiliated them in the first Clásico of this season at the Bernabéu (0-4), the duel next Sunday in Jeddah presents itself as the ideal occasion to finally bury the merengues.

A luxury reinforcement for Barça

FC Barcelona has started 2025 in great form, and after thrashing Barbastro in the round of 16 of the Copa del Rey (0-4), they secured their place in the Supercopa final with a comfortable victory against Athletic Club de Bilbao (0-2), so the feelings heading into the match on January 12 are excellent.

In the match against the Basques, Flick confirmed the full recovery of two key players, Lamine Yamal and Gavi, who were the scorers and the standout figures in the semifinal victory. However, the good news does not stop for the blaugranas, who have also recovered Dani Olmo and Pau Víctor for the match against the Madrid team.

After a long and tense 'soap opera', the culé entity managed to register both players last Wednesday, so they will be available to the coach for the first key match of the season. In fact, the egarense is expected to start in midfield, although the presence of the blaugrana '6' alongside Pedri and Marc Casadó in the central area is also not ruled out. A nice 'headache' for the German.

Real Madrid seeks its second consecutive title

The whites will play their fourth consecutive Supercopa final and will seek to repeat the result obtained in the last edition of the tournament, in which they lifted the title after thrashing the team then coached by Xavi Hernández (4-1) with a 'hat-trick' from Vinicius Jr.

The duel next Sunday is also expected to be a heated one, as if they achieve victory, the merengues will equal Barça's trophy count in the competition. The culés have 14 trophies, one more than the 13 of the Madrid team.

The blaugranas, for their part, seek to close the gap in the historical record of the tournament, as this will be the tenth time a Clásico determines the Supercopa champion and in these direct confrontations, Madrid has demonstrated its superiority, lifting the trophy seven times compared to only two for the Catalans.

Thus, next Sunday, at 20:00 hours, at the King Abdullah Sport City Stadium, Madridistas and culés will face off in a new chapter of the greatest rivalry in football, which will serve to measure strengths and promises to be full of emotions. Will Real Madrid equal the historical count or will it be Barcelona who extends their lead? The answer lies on the pitch.

Match details

• All the information about the match: Real Madrid - FC Barcelona
• Competition: Supercopa de España
• Squad: List of those called
• Possible lineups: The XI of Real Madrid and Barça
• Stadium: King Abdullah Sport City Stadium, 62.345 viewers
• Referee: Jesús Gil Manzano
• TV and schedules: When and where to watch the match - World Guide
• Tickets: Buy tickets to see Real Madrid vs Barça