Last night Real Madrid not only qualified for the final of the Spanish Super Cup, the third of four editions under this new format. In addition, the white club broke a curse that haunted the league champion playing this format since 2020. For the first time, the winner of the league tournament, one of the four participants in the tournament organized by the RFEF, will play the final.
In the first edition, Barcelona played as League champion and Cup runner-up. A tournament that Valencia won and allowed them to go to Saudi Arabia. Atlético and Real Madrid did it as second and third in the league. It was in the semifinals when the Barça team fell against the rojiblancos and definitely Valencia against Real Madrid. So the final was contested by the two Madrid clubs, with the eventual victory of Real Madrid.
In the 2021 edition held at the Estadio de la Cartuja, the situation repeated itself. Real Madrid became champions of the League, Barcelona as runners-up and the two Basque clubs, Athletic Club and Real Sociedad, as Cup finalists. The white team lost in the semifinals where Athletic Club Bilbao and Real Sociedad lost along with Barcelona. So the final is Barcelona-Athletic Club de Bilbao, neither of them as Liga champions.
And the same happened in the last edition of 2022 which was again played in Saudi Arabia. Atlético de Madrid arrived as League champions and Barcelona as Cup champions. Real Madrid did it as league runner-up and Athletic Club de Bilbao as runner-up in the cup tournament. And again the league champion fell in the semifinals in the rivalry between Atlético de Madrid and Athletic Club de Bilbao. Real Madrid won another semifinal in the Spanish soccer classic. Real Madrid repeated the title.
So this Sunday will be the first time the league champion will play this Spanish Super Cup final under this “Final Four” format. Now Real Madrid is waiting for a rival. Whatever the final, it is unprecedented in this new format. Both Barcelona as runners-up in the League and Betis, as eventual Cup champions.
A curse that also haunts the Cup champion at the moment. In the first edition, the cupbearer champion, Valencia, fell in the semifinals with the white team. In the following edition, Real Sociedad, the cupbearer champions, lost in the semifinals with Barcelona.
And in the edition a year ago, Barcelona, as the winner of the KO tournament, fell in the semifinals with Real Madrid. We will see if this “curse” is also broken tonight, if Betis wins, or if it continues if the Barça club wins.
Source: La Verdad
I am Shawn Partain, a journalist and content creator working for the Today Times Live. I specialize in sports journalism, writing articles that cover major sporting events and news stories. With a passion for storytelling and an eye for detail, I strive to be accurate and insightful in my work.
