Real Madrid's Jude Bellingham (left) and Atletico Madrid's Jose Gimenez jump for the ball during the Spanish Super Cup semi final soccer match between Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid at Al Awal Park Stadium in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Jan 10, 2024. (PHOTO / AP)

RIYADH - Real Madrid and FC Barcelona face off in the final of the Spanish Super Cup in Riyadh on Sunday for the first trophy of the season.

The game is a repeat of the match that Barca won 3-1 last season and comes after Xavi Hernandez's side beat Osasuna 2-0 in Thursday's semifinal, while Real Madrid won 5-3 against Atletico Madrid after extra time on Wednesday.

Things have changed a lot in a year and while Barca was flying 12 months ago as Real Madrid's star players looked weary after the FIFA World Cup, this time Real Madrid goes into the game as the favorite, with players such as Jude Bellingham, Brahim Diaz and Rodrygo in excellent form.

Barca has looked flat in possession in recent months and Thursday's win was the first time it has won a game by a margin of more than one goal in 21 attempts

They are also boosted by their 2-1 win in Barcelona earlier this season and can expect to have the support of the majority of the fans in the Al-Awwal Stadium.

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Barca has looked flat in possession in recent months and Thursday's win was the first time it has won a game by a margin of more than one goal in 21 attempts.

They also have a long injury list to contend with after Raphinha joined Inigo Martinez, Marc-Andre ter Stegen, Marcos Alonso, Gavi and Joao Cancelo in the treatment room after the Brazilian pulled a hamstring on Thursday.

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The good news for Xavi is that Pedri was able to play for half an hour after his latest injury, and the Spain international should be able to inject some spark even if he starts on the bench on Sunday.

"This is the perfect scene for a player: as a player, it's unbeatable to play a Super Cup final in a 'Clasico' and we have to try and repeat the performance we produced last season and impose our personality", said Xavi in his pre-game press conference on Saturday.

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Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti won't make many changes to the team that beat Atletico, although he could consider bringing Andriy Lunin into the side to replace Kepa Arrizabalaga in goal.

Kepa looked nervous at times on Wednesday and was at fault for Atletico's third goal of the game, where he was weak in coming off his line for a cross. If Ancelotti does make the change, it would confirm that Lunin is the first choice at the club for the moment, despite Kepa arriving in the summer to cover for the injured Thibaut Courtois.