Athletic pursue a fourth Supercopa in Saudi Arabia | OneFootball

Athletic head to Saudi Arabia targeting a fourth Supercopa de España in their eighth appearance. The 42nd edition starts on Wednesday in Jeddah with a semi-final against Barcelona.

As reported by as.com, victory would give them four titles from eight entries. Their defeats came in 1983-84, 2009-10, 2021-22 and 2024-25.

The first trophy arrived automatically in 1984-85 as double winners under Javier Clemente. In 2015-16 they beat Barcelona 4-0 at San Mamés then drew 1-1 at Camp Nou to lift the cup, ending Luis Enrique’s sextete bid.

The third title came in 2021 under today’s four-team format, played behind closed doors. With Marcelino newly in post after Gaizka Garitano’s exit, Athletic beat Real Madrid 2-1 in the semi-final and Barça 3-2 in the final thanks to Iñaki Williams in extra time.

Those triumphs put Athletic third on the roll of honour, level with Deportivo on three, behind Barcelona on 15 and Real Madrid on 13. Wednesday’s tie will be their 12th Supercopa match.

Ernesto Valverde, who delivered the 2015 success, could draw level with Johan Cruyff and Pep Guardiola on three titles. He also won it in 2018 with Barcelona by beating Sevilla 2-1.

Valverde has coached nine Supercopa matches across six editions with Espanyol, Athletic and Barcelona, the most of any manager. Diego Simeone has eight and one title in five editions.

The competition also preceded Valverde’s dismissal by Barcelona in January 2020 after a semi-final defeat to Atlético in Saudi Arabia.

Source: as.com