RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (BN24) — The Royal Spanish Football Federation has officially announced the semi-final matchups for the 2025 Spanish Super Cup, with defending champions Barcelona set to play Athletic Club and arch-rivals Real Madrid facing Atletico Madrid in an all-Madrid derby.
The tournament will take place once again in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from January 7 to 11, with all matches scheduled at the King Abdullah Sports City Stadium. This venue has become a familiar setting for the competition since its international expansion.
Barcelona, under the guidance of head coach Hansi Flick, returns as title holders following a dominant 5-2 victory over Real Madrid in last season’s final. That result not only secured the Super Cup but also completed a historic Treble for the Catalan club, who also claimed the LaLiga title and Copa del Rey in the same campaign. It marked a significant achievement in Flick’s debut season, further strengthening Barcelona’s pedigree in the restructured competition.
Athletic Club, Barcelona’s semi-final opponents, will be aiming to upset the holders and add to their storied history in Spanish football. Athletic were Copa del Rey finalists, earning them a place in this year’s Super Cup lineup under the revised format.
On the other side of the draw, the Madrid derby between Real and Atletico adds extra spice to the tournament. Real Madrid, runners-up in last season’s final and LaLiga campaign, will look to bounce back after falling short in 2024. Atletico, meanwhile, enter with renewed ambition to lift silverware early in the new year, seeking to repeat their 2020 triumph when the Super Cup was last held in Saudi Arabia.
The Spanish Super Cup adopted its current four-team format in 2019, expanding from a traditional two-club contest between the league and cup winners to include both finalists from the Copa del Rey and the top two finishers in LaLiga. The move was intended to increase competitiveness and commercial value, including taking the event abroad to reach a wider international audience.
Saudi Arabia has hosted the tournament several times since the revamp, part of a broader partnership between the Spanish football federation and the Saudi government to promote the game in the Gulf region. Despite criticism from some quarters, the arrangement has persisted, bringing some of Spain’s biggest footballing names to a growing Middle Eastern fanbase.
With historic rivalries on full display and major titles on the line, the 2025 edition of the Spanish Super Cup promises to be another high-stakes chapter in the evolving saga of Spanish football. The final will be played on January 11, following the two semi-final fixtures earlier that week.
As the countdown begins, attention will shift to Riyadh, where four of Spain’s elite clubs will battle for the first trophy of the calendar year.
