A classic final between Real Madrid and Athletic Club... 64 years laterThe first silverware of the season is on offer this Sunday, with Athletic Club and Real Madrid set to battle for the Supercopa de Espana in Riyadh at 18:30 GMT. Sixty-four years since their last meeting in a final, Real Madrid and Athletic again face off with silverware on the line, having not done so since the Copa del Rey in June 1958.
They know that the game will be tough, but they were able to momentarily put the game to one side. Ancelotti's planThe Real Madrid boss and his players had a clear plan against Barcelona, and their counter-attacking style of play worked a treat. They scored three times, and the third was a perfect execution of what Ancelotti wanted from the team. Although he has said that he has a different plan in mind for the final, he won't necessarily abandon the counter-attacking approach. Marcelino instead draws on the football ability of his players and their character, knowing what Athletic are and what the club means to the players, fans and city of Bilbao. They'll want to celebrate another success, having already beaten Barcelona to make it to the final.
On that occasion, Athletic were victorious. The two are powerhouses of Spanish football, with neither having ever spent a season outside of the top flight, but they haven't met in a final in over six decades. Both coaches come into Sunday's clash with a lot of respect for one another, and they have a history that even saw them compete against each other as players. Marcelino and Carlo Ancelotti posed for photos on the pitch in Riyadh ahead of the final, spending a few minutes speaking, joking and wishing each other well for the game.
Athletic Club - Real Madrid live stream 22.01.2023