Barcelona vs Athletic Club
If the cold is biting a little too much in the European midwinter, then why not head to warmer climes…maybe Saudi Arabia?
That’s exactly what La Liga leaders Barcelona are doing when they are back on the trophy trail on Wednesday. Hansi Flick’s side face Ernesto Valverde’s Athletic Bilbao at the King Abdullah Sports City Stadium as they prepare to defend their Supercopa de España title, and proceed to rack up a record tally of 16 wins in this competition.
The 42nd Supercopa was to feature the winners and runners-up of the 2024/25 La Liga and 2024/25 Copa del Rey; but, as Barcelona beat Real Madrid into second place in both competitions last season they will be joined by the third and fourth placed finishers in the Primera Division, and that’s where Atletico Madrid and Athletic Bilbao come in.
All three matches will be played at the King Abdullah Stadium in Jeddah, and the Madrid giants face off in the other semi-final on Thursday.
But what of the first semi?
Well, Barca are sitting pretty at the top of the Primera Division table, four points clear of Real Madrid, while Athletic Club are down in eighth and straining to climb into European contention; and when the two teams meet on Wednesday the Supercopa de España 2026 betting odds say the Catalans will see off their Basque rivals and await a Madrid opponent in the final…probably Los Blancos in a repeat of the 2025 shootout.
Talking Points
Araujo close to Barca return
A winning start to 2026 was just what Flick had planned for, but the Blaugrana left it late to win El Derbi Barceloni, struggling to break down Espanyol until Dani Olmo, on 86 minutes, and Robert Lewandowski, on 90, gave Barca a 2-0 victory to keep Real Madrid at arm’s length.
There was some word around the Camp Nou that centre-back Ronald Araujo might make an appearance having missed the last eight games, prioritising his mental health. Thankfully the 26-year-old is in a good place again, but the club said he wasn’t 100 per cent physically fit to face Espanyol. He is travelling to Saudi and Flick may take the opportunity to re-introduce Araujo away from the glare of the Spanish press.
Flick’s men have had a testing time over the festive period but they have answered every question asked of them, beating high-flying Villarreal before winning the Barcelona derby, but the return of their influential defender will be a boost as they embark on the second half of their campaign.
All eyes on the Williams boys
While Barca fans will be keen to see Araujo back on the grass their Bilbao rivals have more to worry about with the news that flying winger Nico Williams is, once again, on the radar of Europe’s top clubs. The 23-year-old La Roja hero is a good bet to make some special Supercopa de España 2026 highlights on Wednesday, but will the Saudi exhibition turn out to be his swansong for the Basque giants? It has been reported that Williams has regretted his decision to stay in Bilbao in the summer, when the Premier League top clubs were circling. And now there is speculation that Liverpool may be interested in coming back in for him.
Meanwhile Nico’s older kid brother Inaki has been making his feelings known about the Supercopa being held in Saudi. He was outspoken last year when La Liga’s top sides headed to the Middle East and he has doubled down, saying: “Taking a national competition out to another country does not make things easy for the fans. When we play there it feels like we are the away team.” In addition, Inaki is about to become a dad in the upcoming days and says it is a big hassle to be away from his wife.
The Williams brothers have been such a big part of Bilbao’s recent successes but both have their minds elsewhere as they head off to Saudi.
History
In their 29 appearances at the Supercopa Barcelona have gone out at the semi-final stage only twice, winning 15 Supercopas and finishing as runners up 12 times.
Bilbao have won three Supercopas and made three more finals in their seven appearances.
The Blaugrana have bossed the head to head results over the past 48 encounters, winning two from every three meetings with 32 victories to Bilbao’s eight and there have been eight draws. When the two teams met in November it was an historic and triumphant day as Barcelona returned to the Camp Nou after a two and a half year wait, and ran out 4-0 winners as Ferran Torres scored in either half, with Robert Lewandowski and Fermin Lopez also on the scoresheet.
Betting Tip
Barcelona are the hot favourites to win this Supercopa opener at SBOTOP odds of at 1.57 with the draw at 4.60 and Bilbao at 6.00. And I reckon a comfortable Barca win is on the cards.
A SHORT EXPLANATION ON HOW OUR (⭐) BETS ARE WORTH:
⭐⭐⭐= €20 (HIGHLY CONFIDENT)
⭐⭐= €10 (CONFIDENT)
⭐= €5 (SOMEWHAT CONFIDENT)
Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
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