On paper, Spanish Super Cup is not something Barcelona fans are anticipating so highly. It’s been played in Saudi Arabia, it has a final-four format and the trophy doesn’t mean much. It’s normal that the fans of one of the biggest clubs on the planet are looking more towards La Liga, or the Europa League. But, in reality, they are ‘dying’ to win anything. And so is their coach.They’ve got a wall at the back! 🔵🔴@FCBarcelona have conceded the least number of goals this season in all of Europe’s top 5 leagues!! 🙌 pic.twitter.com/e3jUgCf8hX— LaLiga English (@LaLigaEN) January 12, 2023 Xavi is in his second season as Barcelona coach and is yet to win anything. That is why his first words to the press ahead of the semi-final game against Betis were “If there are no titles this year, you are going to kill me”. He went on to say that winning the Super Cup “wouldn’t change much”, mainly because he is after the league, Europa League and Cup titles (even Koeman won the Cup), but it’s not quite true. Barcelona is in dire need of any trophy, after their last one came in 2021 (4-0 over Bilbao in the Cup), but the Super Cup was last won in 2018, La Liga in 2018/19, and the Champions League 2014/15. And it was all before Xavi came in. So, this title would do well for everybody in the club.Auba’s second Barcelona stint? It’s not gonna happen“In case of winning, it would strengthen us a lot, and in case of losing, it would disappoint us a lot, we are not going to put hot cloths. It would give us an important piece of peace of mind in case of winning. Betis is a complicated rival, a tough rival. I don’t see myself as a favourite. It is a rival that likes to have the ball a lot, Pellegrini likes to put the soccer fans, Fekir, Canales… he is a very strong rival technically, he has a very powerful double pivot. It is a difficult team, well worked” said Xavi.He welcomes Robert Lewandowski for this match, who is available again, just like Jordi Alba, after both men served their suspension. Ferran Torres will be unavailable since he got the red card over the weekend, when Barcelona won 1-0 against Atletico Madrid. It is expected that Xavi will put Alba instead of Balde, while the Pole will start instead of Ansu Fati, who might move to the left side of the attack. SPANISH SUPER CUPSemi-finalWednesdayReal Madrid – Valencia 1-1 (1-0) (4-3 AP)/Benzema 39(p) – Lino 46/Thursday22.00: (6.75) Betis (4.40) Barcelona (1.53)***odds are subject to change
