In most countries, super cups are one-off games, contested between the league champion and the national cup holder. It’s usually played just before the start of the league campaign and is supposed to act like a curtain-raiser for the season. Well, the Spanish have different ideas – and it’s all because of money. Last season’s Super Cup was the first of three editions to be played in Riyadh. The Spanish federation decided to move the Supercopa de Espana to Saudi Arabia for the 2019/20 tournament after the Saudi Arabian government agreed to pay €30 million for each edition of the competition through 2029.##NAJAVA_MECA_6938232##While profitable, the decision to move the competition outside the country has not always been a popular one. Fans in Spain, several players and coaches and sports writers questioned the deal. Unsurprisingly, the Spanish FA president Luis Rubiales defended the decision.Whatever the reasons, whatever the money, we have got three matches to watch at the 70,000-capacity King Fahd Stadium in the Saudi capital.The top two La Liga finishers from 2021/22, Real Madrid and Barcelona, will take on the two 2021/22 Copa del Rey finalists, Valencia and Real Betis in a mini four-team tournament.##NAJAVA_MECA_6938213##The first semi-final, tonight, will be a clash of two suffering teams and their coaches who used to be friends. Valencia have won just one of their last eight games in La Liga and Real Madrid are struggling with injuries. Whatever the circumstances, however, these teams are just two games away from lifting a trophy. And nobody is crazy to pass such an opportunity by.SPANISH SUPER CUPSemi-finalWednesday22.00: (1.58) Real Madrid (4.30) Valencia (6.25)Thursday22.00: (6.75) Betis (4.40) Barcelona (1.53)***odds are subject to change
