In the Spanish newspapers, despite the 5,000 kilometers that separate Madrid from Saudi Arabia, the fever has already begun to rise.

"Superfinal for superkeepers", headlined the Catalan daily Sport on Saturday, while the Madrid newspaper As displayed Thibaut Courtois, Marc-André ter Stegen, Lewandowski and Benzema against a backdrop of A golden, specifying in the title that the clasico will be "the 'affair of these four'.

Even Cristiano Ronaldo, who has just signed with the Al-Nassr club (which lent its facilities to Real Madrid during his stay in Saudi Arabia), wanted to encourage his former club.

"It's always nice to see former teammates and people from the club with which we wrote history. (...) Good luck to our Madrid for Sunday", wished "CR7" on Real Madrid TV.

If the frenzy is less compared to the clasico first leg of La Liga, won 3-1 by Madrid at the Bernabéu in October, this poster in the Spanish Supercup could however be of capital importance.

Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti, at a press conference, January 10, 2023 in Ryad © Fayez Nureldine / AFP

"All titles are important for this club. They give us motivation, confidence, they bring the good atmosphere... There are a lot of things at stake in this match", warned Ancelotti, who knows better than anyone that Real 'never get tired of winning'.

Same story on the Catalan side.

"We are not afraid, we are not anxious. We have a golden chance ahead of us to win a title which would give us enormous confidence. Whatever happens, the season will continue. But with a title in hand, everything is different", slipped Xavi on Saturday, who would have "loved to be on the ground" for this poster.

FC Barcelona coach Xavi, December 30, 2022 at the club's training center © Pau BARRENA / AFP

Ballon d'Or versus Golden Boot

If the numbers give the advantage to Real Madrid of Ancelotti, the dynamics of the teams leads to believe that Barça de Xavi, who stole first place in La Liga from the Merengues before the World Cup in Qatar, is able to glean its first title. for almost two years (the King's Cup in April 2021).

Real Madrid's French striker Karim Benzema after a goal against Valencia, in the Spanish Super Cup semi-final, on January 11, 2023 in Ryad © Fayez Nureldine / AFP

But since his return to the Madrid bench, Carlo Ancelotti has played four out of five possible finals.

And as a coach, he hasn't lost a final since 2010.

In the event of a coronation on Sunday, Real Madrid would equal FC Barcelona's 13 Spanish Super Cups, but above all would reach the bar of 100 titles in history, according to the (sometimes discussed) count of the club.

"I'm hyper-motivated for tomorrow (Sunday, editor's note). And if you tell me that Ancelotti hasn't lost a final since 2010, that motivates me even more", smiled Xavi on Saturday, before finding his counterpart from the Real for the traditional photo of the coaches in front of the trophy.

On the ground, there will be duels on all floors.

In the cages, with Courtois against Ter Stegen, two of the best goalkeepers in the world;

in the surfaces, with the Ballon d'Or Benzema against the Golden Boot "Lewy";

on the wings, with the swift Ousmane Dembélé and Vinicius...

And off the field, the mission has already been successful for the Spanish federation (RFEF) and this ultra-conservative kingdom much criticized by human rights defenders.

Polish FC Barcelona striker Robert Lewandowski, in the Spanish Super Cup semi-final, January 12, 2023 in Ryad © Giuseppe CACACE / AFP

By reviewing the formula of the competition in 2019 and relocating it to Saudi Arabia for ten years and 40 million euros per edition, the organizers have ensured in practice the presence of the stars of Real and Barça, who will push the supporters Saudis at the King-Fahd stadium on Sunday ... even if Madrid and Barcelona will have to follow their clasico on television.

© 2023 AFP