Three talking points for Barcelona ahead of Real Madrid clash in the Super Cup final | OneFootball

FC Barcelona are set to take on Real Madrid in the Spanish Super Cup final in what will be a game that gives both sides a shot at silverware. More than the trophy in itself, it is important for the Catalan club to get one over their arch-rivals.

Tomorrow’s game is not just important in the context of the Super Cup but also gives one team a psychological advantage over the other in the league title race which looks set to go down to the wire this season.

Real Madrid have already secured silverware this season, beating Atalanta to the UEFA Super Cup title meanwhile Hansi Flick will get his first chance to win a trophy as the coach of Barcelona which he will be dying to take.

With all this in mind, here is what we at Barca News Network think are the three talking points for Barcelona ahead of their Spanish Super Cup final clash against Real Madrid.

1. Trophy (and pride) at stake:

Normally, one would not take the Spanish Super Cup that seriously but for a club like Barcelona who have not been among the trophies as much as they would have liked in previous seasons, a victory here would be a shot in the arm.

The stakes are even higher when you realize that Barcelona will be facing Real Madrid in the finals. Beating Los Blancos, irrespective of the competition, even if it was a pre-season game would give the Catalan club bragging rights.

Apart from all this, many players in the current squad are yet to win silverware at club level. It would give these players excellent exposure to feature in a knockout tie under immense pressure and hold them in good stead in other competitions.

Thus, tomorrow’s game is not important for Barcelona just from a trophy perspective but it is also a matter of pride. Let’s wait and see if Hansi Flick can outwit Carlo Ancelotti again and help his team secure an important win.

2. Szczesny or Pena?

The million-dollar question. It must be mentioned here that Inaki Pena was expected to start the semi-final game against Athletic Club in the Super Cup but Hansi Flick dropped him for being late to an activation session in the morning of the game.

In his absence, backup shot-stopper Wojciech Szczesny was given the chance to start just his second game as a Barcelona player, and boy, didn’t the Polish veteran put in a performance for the ages against the Basque side!

Despite being a bit tentative with his sweeping actions, Szczesny was an absolute rock at the back. His shot-stopping was exceptional and he thwarted so many chances on the night which helped Barcelona and himself keep a clean sheet.

It remains to be seen who Hansi Flick goes with for the final. One would have to say that the Pole deserves to continue, at least for the final but Pena has been very good this season too. Let’s wait and see which way Hansi Flick tilts when making the decision.

3. The Dani Olmo conundrum

Dani Olmo did not feature in the game against Athletic Club due to registration issues but it emerged just an hour before that game that the Spaniard has been given temporary permission to feature and can play the Super Cup final against Real Madrid.

It has been a difficult few weeks for Olmo but with an important final on the horizon, he could have an important role to play against Los Blancos. In fact, Hansi Flick could even hand him a start in the game against Real Madrid.

In such big games, the ability of Olmo to pick a pass through a defense is very underrated and he can find a way to change the game on its head. He is also very good with shooting from range but if he has to start, it would have to be at the expense of Gavi.

It remains to be seen what Hansi Flick decides. There is a chance that the Barcelona academy graduate might not yet be ready to start two high-intensity games back to back and let’s wait and see if Olmo features in any capacity against Real Madrid.