Barcelona defends its title this Sunday in the final of the Spanish Super Cup in Riyadh (2:00 p.m., Ecuador) in a replay of the match from a year ago against Real Madrid, who will try to atone for that defeat.

“Last year there was a final in which we were very good, in which we were dominant. We hope we can do it again,” said Barca captain Sergi Roberto at a press conference this Saturday.

A Barca side suffered on Thursday to come through against an Osasuna side that once again showed Barca’s difficulty in closing out a game they largely dominated.

Controlling the ball is key for Barça to try to repeat the victory over Real Madrid, which they beat 3-1 in the Saudi Arabian capital in January 2023.

“We have to try to play a great game, impose our personality, our way of playing and dominate the ball,” Xavi said at Al-Awwal Stadium, where Sunday’s final will take place.

The coach of Barca will not be able to count on Brazilian winger Raphinh for the match, who suffered a muscle injury in the match against Osasuna.

On the other hand, Xavi again has Pedri at his disposal, who had a few minutes against the team from Navarre that was praised by the Barca coach.

“With Pedri, everything becomes clear,” he said after that game, before clarifying this Saturday that he is “100%”.

Pedri, who received a medical discharge on the same Thursday due to a muscle injury he suffered on December 19, could enter Barça’s eleven on Sunday.

Barça are confident that, like last year, a repeat victory in the final will serve to restart the campaign.

But the goal looks complicated against a Real Madrid side that beat Atlético 5-3 on Wednesday at the Al-Awwal Stadium, which will also host Sunday’s clash.

In the end, the white team imposed its best physique in a demanding match that was decided in extra time.

“We are fine, the team is calm, the players have recovered or will recover by tomorrow’s game,” Ancelotti said this Saturday.

Jude Bellingham and Federico Valverde finished the game injured, but on Friday they were with their teammates at the training of the team at the facilities of Al-Nassr, Cristiano Ronaldo’s team.

Only Dani Carvajal trained in the gym, but “he is good, he needed another day of rest, he is not like young players, but he can play without problems,” Ancelotti said.

The game is presented as revenge for Real Madrid after a bad picture a year ago in the defeat to Barcelona.

A victory would be “a strong blow, you start by winning the first title of the season”, captain Nacho Fernández recalled this Saturday.

Without the injured Thibaut Courtois, a goal is in doubt after Kepa’s erratic performance against Atlético.

Ancelotti, who always remains secretive on this matter, could decide to make way for Luna.

“I feel like I can’t pick a starter and a replacement,” he said this Saturday.

The game is also a chance for the Italian manager to draw level with Zinedine Zidane as the club’s second most successful manager with 11 trophies.

The Italian won four titles in his first spell as Merengue coach (2013-2015), adding another six since his return in 2021, leaving him just one behind Zidane.

Another win on Sunday would draw him level with the Frenchman, leaving him only ahead of Miguel Muñoz who won 14 titles with Real Madrid. (D)