Having arrived in Saudi Arabia, FC Barcelona are aiming to defend their Spanish Super Cup title from last year. However, to do so, they must first get past the semi-final stage before even thinking about reaching the final and winning it.
As for their opponents, the Catalan giants will be taking on their former manager Ernesto Valverde and his Athletic Club side. For both teams, this is a game that really matters, and they will look to go all out for it.
FC Barcelona vs Atletico Club: Match details
--------------------------------------------
* **Date:** Wednesday, 7th January 2026
* **Competition:** Spanish Super Cup
* **Stage:** Semi-finals
* **Time:** 10:00 pm (Arabian Standard Time)
* **Venue:** [King Abdullah Sport City Stadium](https://x.com/FCBarcelona/status/2008543619163017389?s=20)
* **Referee:** Isidro Díaz de Mera Escuderos
* **VAR:** Jorge Figueroa Vázquez
Match overview:
---------------
For any Barcelona fan or player, this is a competition that deserves to be taken seriously. After all, the Catalan giants will want to defend their title after winning it last year by thrashing Real Madrid in the final, and this presents an opportunity for them to retain their crown.
Moreover, with a strong cast of players available and at Hansi Flick’s disposal, the German coach should have no issues fielding a strong team for the upcoming fixture. Furthermore, even in terms of form, Barça are among the finest teams in Europe right now.
With eight wins from their last eight games in all competitions, Barcelona are running rampant right now. Moreover, they have scored 10 goals in their last five games and have conceded only one goal in that same period, managing to keep four consecutive clean sheets in the process.
Athletic Club, on the other hand, have not been nearly as effective or impressive in recent weeks. Beyond the fact that they [lost 4-0 to the Catalan giants](https://semprebarca.com/yamal-9-0-lewandowski-8-5-fc-barcelona-4-0-athletic-club-player-ratings/) at the Spotify Camp Nou the last time these two sides met, their recent form has been anything but convincing.
Two draws, two losses, and just one win in their last five games is not exactly a strong run of form. Moreover, they have scored only three goals in those five matches and have conceded five in return, a rather underwhelming and overall negative goal difference.
Still, they are a side that likes to compete against the best teams and engineer upsets. For that reason, Barcelona simply cannot afford to be complacent or take them lightly at any stage, and it will be up to Hansi Flick and his players to ensure they get the result they need.