Spanish Super Cup: Real Madrid begin title defense against Valencia in Saudi Arabia

Riyadh: The Spanish Super Cup is returning to Saudi Arabia with defending champions Real Madrid and Valencia looking to get back on track and Barcelona and Real Betis hoping to maintain momentum. The first semi-final game on Wednesday features Madrid and Valencia with both teams coming off weekend losses in the Spanish league. Madrid have dropped three points behind league leaders Barcelona after a 2-1 defeat at Villarreal . Valencia lost 1-0 to Cadiz at home — their second straight league loss — and are four points from the relegation zone. Barcelona and Betis meet on Thursday following victories back home. Barcelona rebounded from recent poor results with a hard-fought 1-0 win at Atletico Madrid , while Betis continued their good start to the year with a 2-1 win at Rayo Vallecano to stay in the Champions League spots. The final is on Sunday at the King Fahd Stadium in Riyadh. This is the fourth edition of the revamped Super Cup, which used to be played only between the Spanish league champions and the Copa del Rey winner. Now the runners-up in both competitions also participate, forming a Final Four tournament. Madrid clinched the league ahead of Barcelona last season, while Betis won the cup final against Valencia. Madrid won the revamped Super Cup in 2020 and 2022 . Athletic Bilbao won in 2021 , when the tournament was played back in Spain because of the coronavirus pandemic. The lucrative contract to play in Saudi Arabia was extended through 2024-25 despite criticism over the nation’s poor human rights record. MADRID DEPLETED Madrid will be without defender David Alaba and midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni because of injuries. The regular starters did not travel with the rest of the squad to Saudi Arabia. Dani Carvajal, who had been sidelined recently because of a muscle problem, will be available for coach Carlo Ancelotti. LEWANDOWSKI FOR BARCA [caption id=“attachment_11951222” align=“alignnone” width=“640”] Barcelona players celebrate after beating Atletico Madrid in LaLiga. AP[/caption] Barcelona coach Xavi will be able to count on Robert Lewandowski again after the striker missed the league game against Atletico while serving the first of a three-game suspension . He is allowed to play in the Super Cup, though, and is set to start against Betis. BOOSTED BETIS Betis enters the Super Cup boosted by consecutive wins to start the year. The results left the Seville club in fourth place in the Spanish league and with a spot secured in the Round of 16 of the Copa del Rey. “It was important to win going into the Super Cup,” Betis coach Manuel Pellegrini said. “We will go with a lot of confidence.” VALENCIA STRUGGLES The team coached by Gennaro Gattuso and led by veteran forward Edinson Cavani arrive in Saudi Arabia having won only one of its last eight league games. “We are going through a tough moment and I’m the first responsible for it because I’m the coach,” Gattuso said. “We have to keep working hard, it’s the only solution.” Read all the  Latest News ****,  Trending News ****,  Cricket News ****,  Bollywood News ****,  India News  and  Entertainment News  here. Follow us on  Facebook****,  Twitter and  Instagram****.