The Supercopa de España returns for a sixth year in its revamped format, with four LaLiga mainstays all aiming to lay claim to the domestic season’s first trophy.
Holders Real Madrid, Barcelona, Athletic Club and Mallorca will do battle at King Abdullah Sports City in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia between 8 and 12 January.
Here are four reasons why you cannot miss the 2024/25 Supercopa.
Athletic Club eyeing history repeat
📸 Juan Manuel Serrano Arce – 2024 Getty Images
No team embodies the purism of Spanish football quite like Athletic Club.
One of only three teams never to be relegated from LaLiga, a policy of recruiting players exclusively from the Basque region continues to stand the test of time.
Under Ernesto Valverde, they have continued to make tangible strides, having ended a 40-year wait for major silverware in last season’s Copa del Rey final.
But that long-awaited success came at a cost as they were unable to sustain a push for Champions League qualification, finishing eight points adrift of fourth place.
There is no shortage of quality at San Mamés, with Nico Williams still coveted after his role in Spain’s EURO 2024 success while the Lehoiak’s industrious style means goals are shared around, with only Oihan Sancet’s haul of five standing out so far.
A Supercopa showdown with Barcelona offers a fresh test of Athletic’s capabilities, not to mention renewing a rivalry which dates back to Diego Maradona’s 1980s heyday.
Valverde will be keen to put down another marker against his former employers, having dumped them out of last year’s Copa del Rey quarter-final in extra time.
With the Catalans bruised and battered, that recent history might just repeat itself.
Barça need to salvage their season
📸 Alex Caparros – 2024 Getty Images
Things just seem to be going from bad to worse for Barcelona at the moment.
In the blink of an eye, Hansi Flick’s side have seen a previously commanding lead at the top of LaLiga disintegrate, while their ongoing financial issues meant that both Dani Olmo and Pau Cubarsí could not be registered to play for the second half of this season.
As it stands, Barça will be heading to Saudi Arabia in the grip of difficult moments both on and off the pitch after starting 2024/25 in fine form and with great potential.
The Supercopa also carries bittersweet memories, having propelled the club’s title-winning charge in 2023, before a pummelling by Real Madrid just 12 months later.
However they still possess players capable of quality moments, with an evergreen Robert Lewandowski already surpassing the 20-goal mark in all competitions.
Raphinha has taken on the mantle of the Blaugrana’s standout performer while La Masia graduate Lamine Yamal’s stock continues to rise in his meteoric ascent.
If they can overcome Athletic Club, it might salvage a season currently on the brink.
Real Madrid are ready to reignite
📸 Angel Martinez – 2024 Getty Images
Heavy is the head that wears the crown, as Real Madrid know all too well.
More than a successful defence of the Supercopa is on the line for Carlo Ancelotti’s side, who used last year’s success as a platform to sweep nearly all before them.
The reigning Spanish and European champions have struggled somewhat this term, typified by a four-goal humbling by Barcelona at home in the season’s first Clásico.
But while they ended 2024 trailing city rivals Atlético de Madrid in LaLiga and are unlikely to automatically qualify for the Champions League’s knockout stage, Los Blancos are promising to hit their stride at an opportune moment in the campaign.
Fresh off winning the Intercontinental Cup and largely free from the injury spike which hit double figures before the winter break, Madrid return to Saudi Arabia as a team finally ready to reignite with Kylian Mbappé belatedly finding the goal trail.
Vinícius Júnior remains a man on a mission since his Ballon d’Or snub, while Jude Bellingham is again showing signs of the talent which underpinned his debut season.
Winning a 14th Supercopa also carries fresh incentive for Madrid as it would draw them level with Barcelona as the competition’s joint most-successful team.
Mallorca could spring another surprise
📸 Fran Santiago – 2024 Getty Images
This season is already shaping up to be one to remember for Mallorca.
They headed into 2025 with Jagoba Arrasate eclipsing Héctor Cúper’s longstanding club-record points haul at the midway point of any LaLiga campaign of 29.
Since returning to the top flight in 2021/22, they have re-established themselves as mainstays who are now threatening to lay siege to the league’s established order.
Last year’s Copa del Rey final defeat to Athletic Club marked their first in the showpiece since 2003 while they continue to make inroads on the European places.
Los Piratas have enjoyed a few statement results along the way, too, including holding Real Madrid on the opening weekend and a comeback win at Girona.
Veteran Antonio Raíllo remains key to one of Spain’s most stoic defences while Cyle Larin has been a revelation in attack since working under Arrasate’s tutelage.
They are certainly capable of springing a surprise by frustrating Madrid once more.
📸 GIUSEPPE CACACE – AFP or licensors