The current pandemic situation has forced the competition to be judged in Andalusia and not like the previous one in Saudi Arabia
Real Sociedad-Barcelona and Real Madrid-Athletic Club will be the semifinals of the Spanish Super Cup on 13 and 14 January, respectively, according to the draw made by the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) during the Extraordinary General Assembly held this Thursday.
The first semifinal between the Real and Barcelona will be played at the Nuevo Arcángel stadium in Córdoba and the one that will face the Real Madrid and Athletic the day after La Rosaleda de Málaga.
The final will be played on the 17th at La Cartoixa in Seville.
The current pandemic situation has forced the competition to be judged in Andalusia and not like the previous one in Saudi Arabia, according to the RFEF had committed for the 2021 edition and also the next, although the Assembly supported that the body extend the agreement to judge in this country beyond what was initially signed.
The RFEF closed an agreement last year to play the Super Cup in Arabia for three years and three more optional ones and the Assembly voted in favor of extending the agreement with 83 votes in favor, none against and 5 abstentions.
Before the vote, the president of the body, Luis Rubiales, stated that in 2021 the RFEF must announce the extension of that commitment, after which “there is a very important income” for the four participating teams and also a direct grant for non-professional football, with programs such as ‘Impulso 23’.
“What is being asked is for the Assembly to send me to extend the contract what is necessary enough to ensure that income continues to come to the RFEF to continue to maintain our lines of subsidies with women’s football, futsal and poorer football, even though it will not be held there this year, “Rubiales said.
The president stressed that the Spanish Super Cup was signed in more than 180 countries and that “it is very difficult to find a short competition with this football quality and so much level”. “I don’t think there is a competition with so few games and teams of such excellence,” he said.
The Super Cup brings together the two finalists of the King’s Cup 2019/20, Athletic and Real Sociedad, not yet disputed due to the pandemic, and the first two of LaLiga Santander 2019/20, Real Madrid and Barcelona.
The white box is the current champion of the title, he won last January with a format of four finals.
The French team Zinedine Zidane it surpassed then in semifinals in Valencia (1-1) and was in the end with Athletic of Madrid, which left out the title fight in the Barcelona (2-3).
In the decisive match, the Madrid players were crowned after resolving by penalties (4-1) a duel that ended in a draw to zero.
Since the Rules of the tournament state that the league champion (Real Madrid) must face the runner-up in the Cup, and that the Cup Champion must do so with the runner-up in the League (Barça), without having yet played the cup final between Athletic and Real Sociedad for the desire of the clubs and the RFEF to be disputed with the public, the body today drew the crosses for the 2021 edition.
* The games will be broadcast in the United States by ESPN Deportes