Barça opens its title defense against Osasuna this Thursday in the Spanish Super Cup, a title they won in dramatic fashion last year in Riyadh by defeating Real Madrid. This marks the fourth edition of the competition staged in Saudi Arabia. Coach Xavi waits with cautious optimism, hoping the Super Cup can become a turning point for a team that sits seven points off the league leader, has not won by more than a single goal in twenty matches, and continues to spark questions about its football identity.
Xavi has been central to each of the three Super Cups held in Arabia so far. He hopes to repeat the triumph, reinforcing the idea of Barca reclaiming the title, even if only indirectly. History suggests there is always something brewing here. The narrative goes back to 2020 when Barça exited in the semi-finals after a memorable clash with Atlético de Madrid in Jeddah. When Josep Maria Bartomeu arrived at Barcelona, he dismissed Ernesto Valverde, and a delegation including Éric Abidal and Óscar Grau traveled to Doha to persuade Xavi that Egarense should take charge. The Terrassa-born coach believed it was not his moment and declined the offer.
Two years later, in 2022, Xavi returned to Riyadh as Barça’s coach. After briefly replacing Ronald Koeman, the team began to climb in La Liga after reinforcements in the winter window. Barça faced Real Madrid and fell in extra time. The club had endured a rough stretch, and that defeat felt almost celebratory at the time, with President Joan Laporta entering the locker room to congratulate the players. Barça found renewed momentum and could again compete with the biggest clubs.
Real Madrid reached the Super Cup final through extra time in a derby that the city of Riyadh had dreamed about
That prophecy materialized a year later as Xavi’s Barça stood as Super Cup champions and outplayed Real Madrid in the Riyadh final. The victory signaled a shift, with the club announcing the start of a new era. There were expectations that the Catalans would extend their league dominance, yet this campaign has paused those plans. Some Madrid reporters even quizzed Carlo Ancelotti about Barça’s season plans, underscoring how high the scrutiny has become.
Nothing will be spared
Xavi understands that the Super Cup is a stage where fortunes swing quickly. He aims for a strong, consistent showing this time around, hoping to mirror last year’s success. A loss to Osasuna this Thursday would complicate Barca’s position, raising concerns about the club’s current crisis. Osasuna represents the first real test of Xavi’s pursuit of a third title as Barca coach, so no part of the match will be taken lightly.
On the injury front, players like Pedri and others who traveled to Riyadh without medical clearance are not being rushed back. Most likely, they will only feature if a final becomes necessary, though it remains possible that some minutes could be allotted against an Osasuna side that has treated this competition as a reward. Osasuna has reached the Copa del Rey final this year but has struggled in the league, having won just one of its last eight league games in 2023. Chimy Ávila remains one of their most dangerous attackers.
For Barça, Gavi, Ter Stegen, and Marcos Alonso are sidelined long-term. Iñigo Martínez has joined as a trusted center-back for the defense, while Cancelo and Pedri wait for medical clearance in Riyadh. Xavi’s plan is likely to rely on a backline with three defenders who were integral last season, with Joao Félix potentially keeping Ferran Torres on the bench or regaining possession for the Portuguese after a tough outing in the Cup. Captain Sergi Roberto, following solid recent form, will likely push to secure a starting role in the final, a prerequisite to avoiding a crisis in the league’s eleventh round.
Possible squads, on paper
barça: Ter Stegen; Koundé, Araujo, Christensen, Balde; Frenkie de Jong, Sergi Roberto, Gündoğan; Raphinha, Lewandowski and Ferran Torres.
osasun: Sergio Herrera; Areso, Catena, David García, Rubén Peña; Moncayola, Iker Muñoz, Moi Gómez, Aimar Oroz; Arnáiz and Budimir.