A semi-final of the Super Cup is something historical, never seen, like the first game of the League, back in 1928, or the first of the European Cup. It is difficult to predict the health of this competition, subject to the ups and downs of Rubiales (now to a match in Tangier, now in Final Four format in Arabia, in three years we will see ...), but without a doubt that today's match will remain in The almanacs. That is why the logical doubts before the disposition of the teams before this initial screen, where there is little to win, since the title would still demand a very hard final against Barcelona or Atlético.

The defeat would be sweeter today than then, since at least the loser would save a few days in Jeddah and gain rest in Madrid before resuming the league calendar. The four candidates give the feeling of landing in Arabia more pending of other things than this peculiar tournament.

But the category of the four shields guarantee competition in the grass, of that there is no doubt. The rivalry and tension accompany the two confrontations, already seen, by the way, last month in the League, and both resolved in the countdown: Messi decided in Wanda and Benzema tied in Mestalla .

Precisely, the absence of French leaves very lame at the forefront of Madrid. The entire attack of the season has revolved around Zidane's nine, now forced to find alternatives between his questioned offensive line. No one joined with true power to the scoring work so far. A problem to be solved by the coach if he wants to dress the trip with a title always welcome. Without Benzema, Bale and Hazard , Madrid is much less Madrid.

To Jeddah, ZZ has been brought in very alternate alternates, such as Brahim and Mariano, and important pieces returning from injuries. We talked about James Rodríguez and Lucas Vázquez, with options to appear on the team. If you prefer to be prudent, you would have to pull your Brazilian partner or Jovic, the invisible battering ram. Behind, Valverde may reappear after resting in Getafe last Saturday. «We have a very long staff. Jovic is an option, ”said Zidane. "The boy has a lot of future," he predicts. About the new tournament, he is also enthusiastic. «It's a tremendous illusion, we don't come here for a walk. We want to make a great match. We have to get our best version, ”said the Algerian parents' Marseille, visiting for the first time in Arabia .

Celades, the Valencia coach, is the same as ZZ because of Rodrigo's injury. The lowering of its star striker is very worrying. "We will have to adapt," sighed the coach who was Lopetegui's assistant in his brief time at Madrid. Nor did he protest the new Super Cup format. «We can do little. We will try to take the title to our fans, ”he said when he was reminded of the few tickets sold among Mestalla fans.

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  • Luka Jovic
  • Rodrigo Moreno
  • Eden Hazard
  • Gareth Bale
  • First division
  • Copa del Rey
  • sports

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