Three talking points ahead of Barcelona vs Athletic Club | Spanish Super Cup

Barcelona embark on a new venture later tonight as they take on Athletic Club in the semifinal of the Spanish Super Cup in Saudi Arabia.

The competition, revised as a knockout tournament featuring four teams, sees Barcelona, Athletic Club, Real Madrid and Mallorca fight it out for silverware this season and the Catalans were seen as one of the favourites.

Their recent slump in form, however, leaves their chances unclear as they must battle out two wins in as many games to secure the crown.

Hansi Flick’s side are coming fresh off a win over Barbastro in the Copa del Rey, but with most senior players rested on the night, tonight’s game will be the first full game for the Blaugrana leaders. After all, the stakes are sky-high.

On that note, Barça Universal brings you three talking points ahead of Barcelona vs Athletic Club.

A special competition

The Spanish Super Cup is indeed a glorified tournament considering that it gifts teams a chance to win a trophy in just two games. The new format has seen it turn into a marketing gimmick of sorts, but its prestige remains undisturbed.

Traditionally designed to crown the king of Spanish football of the past season, Barcelona would not have been in the event at all had it still been conducted in the old format. Now, however, they find themselves as close to a trophy as they have been this season.

The Catalans hit rock bottom towards the end of last year and have been looking for something to hold on to ever since. The win in the Copa del Rey helped, but not quite to the extent that winning the Spanish Super Cup can.

For a team that was looking like the best side in Europe just months ago, Barcelona now require as much momentum and confidence as they can and winning the event in Saudi Arabia will go a long way on that front.

Getting past Athletic Club first and possibly Real Madrid next en route to that win would make it all the more special.

The event is thus more than a two-game sprint to success for Flick and Co. who have shown their quality on multiple big occasions this season.

Will Lamine Yamal start?

Barcelona’s fortunes with and without Lamine Yamal on the field are starkly different and it is quite clear why the youngster is so integral to the Catalan setup.

Yamal’s pace and trickery on the flank, his ability to get past defenders with ease and pick out passes that few can envision make him a serious X factor in the Blaugrana camp, and his presence was direly missed towards the end of last month.

Barcelona did well against Atletico Madrid for most of the game, but one would imagine they would have sealed the result much earlier had the teenage star been on the field.

Speaking to the media ahead of the Super Cup semifinal, the manager confirmed that Yamal is ready to feature on the night. The question, however, is to what extent he will be involved.

If the teenage phenom is fit to feature from the get-go, Barcelona will have a major advantage added against Athletic Club especially given his ability to lead the counter. Concurrently, however, it is imperative that he is not risked if not at 100%.

The registration conundrum

While not a lot is being spoken publicly, it is clear that the non-registration of Pau Victor and Dani Olmo has had a significant impact on the dressing room environment.

The internal tensions in the club are rising and with frustrations growing about whether the duo can feature again this season, the bubble burst last night when Raphinha gave his public verdict and expressed disappointment.

Olmo and Victor have travelled with the team for the Spanish Super Cup but their participation is still under doubt, even for a potential final.

It remains to be seen if the final verdict on their registration comes during the upcoming tournament and whether they will be available to play in any capacity. However, it is clear that the spotlight shines as brightly on the controversy as it does on the tournament itself.