Spanish Super Cup: Xabi Alonso's Leverkusen vs Barcelona - Last Chance?

Can PSG 2026 imitate PSG 2025? “The only unknown is the physical”

Video credit: Eurosport

Qualifying for a final and being – perhaps more than ever – in an ejection seat, this is the hard law of being Real Madrid coach. On Sunday, Xabi Alonso possibly plays his role when facing sworn rival FC Barcelona to win the Spanish Super Cup. Announced in the hot seat, the Madrid technician can turn part of the opinion in his favor with a trophy and a successful match in such a poster. But in Jeddah on Sunday, the sword will be double-edged.

There are a few gestures that are unmistakable. Dani Carvajal proclaims to anyone who will listen that his coach is “calm“, “with clear ideas“, there is nothing trivial in the hasty return of Kylian Mbappé, despite a knee injury announced as requiring 15 days of rest. It only took 12 for the French striker to be not only revived, but above all able to play a major role in a match with such high stakes, the intensity that goes with it. It is perhaps only the Spanish Super Cup which is at stake, far from being the priority absolute of the season for Real But because he has been coughing in the game for weeks, and a new line in the prize list would also mean losing the skin to Barça, this final is already a major meeting.

Dani Carvajal, January 10, 2026 at a press conference.

Credit: Getty Images

Barça scares, Real questions

“It’s always an important moment to win a final, and even more so against Barcelonaveteran Dani Carvajal makes no secret of it. It’s a morale boost for both teams. Whoever wins tomorrow will come out stronger.” Not sure that the Blaugrana, who remain on nine consecutive victories and an oh so exciting performance in the semi-final on Wednesday against Bilbao (5-0) really need it. With five successes in a row, the form of the Madrilenians is not dishonorable. But the performances without much relief, including against the neighbor Atlético in the semi-final on Thursday (2-1), are in adequacy neither with the DNA of the Merengue, nor with the expectations raised by the arrival of Xabi Alonso.

The one who offered an electrifying and winning game with Bayer Leverkusen is struggling after half a season to keep his armada running. “It is true that at the end of the year, the team was not at its best levela reconn Dani Carvalal. We were also disrupted by numerous absences. The Christmas holidays were good for all of us.“A message almost perfectly opposite to that of his opposite number Eric Garcia, who took the podium a few minutes before him.”I always said we had a lot of injuries, but that’s no excuseexplains the defender about the championship match between the two teams. We improved as a team. The other day we had one of our best matches. We found our identity.“

Fermin Lopez (Barça) celebrates against Athletic Bilbao in the Spanish Super Cup, January 7, 2026

Credit: Getty Images

The memory of Act I this season between Real and Barça is something to cling to for Xabi Alonso and his men. At a peak of tension, Madrid was able to thwart its opponent (2-1), failing to be brilliant at all times. Kylian Mbappé scored again, Jude Bellingham too after a very sluggish start to the season, and Vinicius was sparkling. Above all, Lamine Yamal had been perfectly muzzled, and Barcelona had been very timid at the Bernabeu. It was to be a founding act of the Xabi Alonso era, and that day, Real took a five-point lead at the top of La Liga after ten days. Two and a half months later, he is four behind his Catalan enemy.

How many Clasicos have we played in a year and a half? How many did we win?

The game has still not made a leap forward. “Tomorrow you will have to be bloody in both surfaces, play a match similar to the one at the Bernabeu and resist the blows that the opponent can give you: this is the way to win the title” envisages Dani Carvajal. Which implies being able to count on a Kylian Mbappé of the big nights, he who had scored (his sixth goal in five Clasicos) but also saw a superb goal finally denied him and missed a penalty in La Liga. Which also implies that Barça will not find the solution this time again. “We know Barcelona well and they know us well. At this point there are no more secrets” believes Xabi Alonso anyway.

More secrecy, but no less pressure. In addition to this first part of the season, Real also has the 2025 Super Cup to forget, and the 5-2 thrashing given by the same executioner. “But how many Clasicos have we played in a year and a half? How many did we win? We only lost one!” recalled Hansi Flick.

Alonso is not Ancelotti

The capital’s players were already not at their best at this time. But the slap did not have the same impact, the almost mystical aura of Carlo Ancelotti at the Madrid club pushing back the scenario of an ouster. With the Italian, there emerged an irrepressible feeling that even when everything was going wrong, the tide could always turn at Real. A sort of legitimate immunity on which Xabi Alonso cannot count. “Winning the title would be a joy shared with everyone and all Madridistas. I don’t take it as a release” he assured.

The former midfielder can ignore the rumors, but he cannot be fooled by the weight of the match. “Within the technical staff, we feel very close to the players and these matches, which are of great importance, can have a considerable impact on the future.he conceded. We live them with a lot of involvement, a lot of energy. Players are engaged in the present moment and what lies ahead. It won’t be decisive, but tomorrow’s match will be important.” “We are with Xabi in life and death” insisted Dani Carvajal. The second disastrous scenario could well come to fruition.