Updated 8 January 2020 at 12:30 IST
Spanish Super Cup: Valencia vs Real Madrid live streaming details and team news from Saudi
The revamped format of the Spanish Super Cup will see Real Madrid take on Copa del Rey holders Valencia in Saudi Arabia. Bale, Hazard, Benzema miss out.
Both Valencia and Real Madrid will jet off to Jeddah in Saudi Arabia to face off against each other in the semi-final of the Spanish Super Cup. As a part of the deal to promote the sport in Saudi Arabia, four teams will now participate in the Spanish Super Cup this year, as opposed to the two-team affair that was earlier in place. Valencia will face off against Real Madrid at the King Abdullah Sports City on January 8 (Wednesday night, 12:30 am IST).
Spanish Super Cup: Valencia vs Real Madrid preview
If the previous format of the Spanish Super Cup were in place, Valencia would face off against Barcelona for the cup. However, the new and improved (read: marketable) format of the Spanish Super Cup will welcome the ever-marketable Real Madrid and their cross-city rivals Atletico Madrid. Heading into the game against Valencia, Zinedine Zidane will be without the services of Karim Benzema, Gareth Bale and Eden Hazard. Valencia, on the other hand, will miss Rodrigo Moreno in the attack, although manager Albert Celades will have the option of fielding Kevin Gameiro upfront.
With Thibaut Courtois' resurgence in the last couple of weeks in LaLiga, Valencia will be hard-pressed to beat the Belgium shot-stopper. Courtois has now kept nine clean sheets in LaLiga despite an indifferent start to the season. With Goncalo Guedes out of the Spanish Super Cup semi-final and Rodrigo Moreno still nursing a knee injury, Maxi Gomez will have to lead the attack for Valencia. However, with the likes of Isco, Rodrygo, Luka Modric and Toni Kroos at Zinedine Zidane's disposal, Real Madrid will be the favourites for this fixture.
Published By : Colin DCunha
Published On: 8 January 2020 at 12:30 IST