Spanish Super Cup Final: Xabi Alonso's Survival Skills Revealed

JEDDAH, SATURDAY – When under pressure, a person tends to be able to surpass their own limits. This is what is interesting to observe from Xabi Alonso during the Supercopa de España final at the King Abdullah Sports City Stadium, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on Monday (12/1/2026) at 02:00 WIB. Alonso, who was cornered, had to lead Real to victory. However, this mission was not easy considering that Barca was in top form.

The Spanish Super Cup trophy can be considered as a pressure-relief formula for Alonso. The performance of the coach from the Basque Country is currently under scrutiny following Real's unconvincing results in La Liga. Real, which initially started strong at the beginning of the season, leading Barca by seven points, is now trailing by four points.

Overall, Alonso has not been satisfactory in terms of the team's playing style and results. For this reason, he desperately needs his first trophy since taking charge of the team this season as a remedy for the suffering. The Spanish Super Cup trophy will at least slightly shift the public's doubts about Alonso.

So far, Alonso has not been tested against opponents with high-quality players. If he can win against Barca, confidence in Alonso is guaranteed to increase. Conversely, a defeat against Barca would certainly put Alonso's position on the brink. Moreover, in their first league meeting, Alonso successfully defeated Barca, 2-1. If he loses to Barca in the final, it would mean that Alonso is indeed inconsistent.

"We know that the (final) will be difficult and yesterday we talked about not forgetting the league matches. We need energy in the duel, the fight, and the things that we know we can do," said Alonso after the semifinal match against Atletico Madrid.

However, Alonso's victory in the league cannot be used as a reference for Barca's current performance. At that time, Barca played without the presence of coach Hansi Flick, who was serving a card suspension. The match took place at Real's home ground. The situation is different this time, as the match is being held at a neutral venue. Flick is now able to accompany his team.

We have to win. Last year we lost two finals against them, and we really want to win, as do they, who lost the league's El Clasico and will definitely want revenge.

Barca's performance, which successfully achieved nine consecutive victories with five matches without conceding a goal, could dampen Real's fighting spirit. On the road to the final, Barca defeated Athletic Bilbao five goals to none. This contrasts with Real, which had to struggle to overcome Atletico Madrid. Although victorious, Real has not yet played in the manner desired by Alonso. Real's victories tend to be secured more by individual brilliance than by the collective effort of its players.

Alonso's chances of winning are hindered by injury issues, particularly in the defense line. The formidable center-back Antonio Ruediger is doubtful to play after being substituted due to injury in the previous match. Dean Huijsen is a potential replacement for Ruediger, but the former Bournemouth player needs to regain his touch after a long absence.

The good news is that Real's star forward Kylian Mbappe has landed in Saudi Arabia and is projected to play. Mbappe is one of the players who contributed to the winning goal for Real when they defeated Barca in their league meeting last October.

On the other hand, the Barca players have not been able to forget the defeat against Real. They watched the match between Real and Atletico on television in their hotel room. The Barca players were pleased because Real advanced to the final, which means their opportunity for revenge is open.

"We have to win. Last year we lost two finals against them and we really want to win, as do they, who lost the league's Clásico and will definitely want revenge. It will be a big match between two teams who both want to win," said Real goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois.

Barca is favored in the final due to their positive trend. Goalkeeper Joan Garcia is enjoying his best performance, having recorded clean sheets in the last three consecutive matches.

In the front line, all Barca players are ready to play, including Marcus Rashford, Robert Lewandowski, and Ferran Torres. Although not injured, Lamine Yamal is doubtful to be a game-changer as he has been struggling to showcase his best performance in recent crucial matches.

Due to the abundance of player options, Flick is even struggling to determine who deserves to occupy the attacking midfielder position. In that position, there are Fermin Lopez and Dani Olmo, both of whom are also performing well.

"I greatly appreciate what I have seen today. We have reached a very high level both in defense and in attack," said Flick.

It's perfectly natural for Flick to feel confident ahead of the final. Especially considering his head-to-head record, which boasts four wins and only one loss in the previous five El Clásicos.

However, Flick should leave room for caution. Especially against those who are under pressure. Alonso, who is under the shadow of dismissal, could very well overturn predictions, turning Barcelona's beautiful dream into a bitter reality. (AFP)