Spanish Super Cup semi-finals: How to watch Real Betis vs Barcelona live on January 12, 2023

Topics: TV Schedules, Real Betis, Barcelona, Supercopa de Espana

Who will face Real Madrid in this weekend's final? This is the question Los Verdiblancos and the Blaugrana look to answer in their highly-anticipated showdown in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

The Spanish Super Cup is currently underway, with Barcelona preparing for an exciting semifinal battle in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The Catalan giants will lock horns with Real Betis, the defending Copa del Rey champions, for a spot in Sunday's final against Real Madrid, who beat Valencia on Wednesday.

In the previous edition of this competition, the Catalans failed to make make the final, crashing out in the penultimate stage. Xavi's men faced Los Blancos, the eventual champions, in the last four and lost 3-2 in extra time, meaning the Blaugrana are out for redemption.

Fortunately, the Spanish giants enter their showdown with Real Betis in spectacular form. Pedri and Co. recently beat Atletico Madrid in La Liga, triumphing 1-0 at Los Rojiblancos' infamously hostile home ground to go three points clear at the top.

Furthermore, Sunday's triumph also saw Barcelona stretch their unbeaten run in all competitions to seven games, which includes a Copa del Rey triumph last Wednesday as well as a 1-0 win over Valencia in the Spanish top-flight.

However, this doesn't mean there have been no bumps in the road for the Camp Nou side. In their recent clash with Atletico Madrid, Xavi's crew struggled to control the game after going 1-0 up in the 22nd minute and needed brilliant defending from Araujo and Christensen in order to come away with the three points.

Additionally, in their Copa del Rey encounter which was against third-tier side Intercity, Barcelona conceded three goals and were taken to extra time, with Ansu Fati scoring the winner to spare the Catalan powerhouse's blushes.

Xavi is yet to guide this massive club to any silverware since arriving in November 2021 and will want to get his hands on the Spanish Super Cup. Barcelona haven't won this competition in any of the last three editions, instead watching bitter rivals Real Madrid lift the trophy twice since 2018. If Pedri and Co. are to put this barren run to an end, they must overcome two difficult hurdles, starting with Thursday's clash with Real Betis.

As mentioned earlier, Los Verdiblancos are the Copa del Rey holders and will be aiming to add another domestic cup title to their cabinet. Manuel Pellegrini's men beat Valencia on penalties last year to be crowned the King's Cup champions, but a showdown with the Blaugrana should be a tougher test.

Fortunately, Real Betis head into this clash in form. The Andalusian club are currently fourth in the table, sitting a point ahead of Spanish giants Atletico Madrid, which means they are in the running for UEFA Champions League berth this season.

Additionally, Borja Iglesias and Co. are unbeaten since the end of the 2022 FIFA World Cup, drawing with Athletic Club while beating Rayo Vallecano in La Liga and Ibiza Islas Pitiusas in the Copa del Rey.

However, that round of 32 cup victory could have ended differently as Pellegrini's side were 1-0 down until nearly the hour mark before staging a 4-1 comeback win. They cannot afford something similar against Barcelona and will need to be at their best in order to set up a date with Real Madrid in the Spanish Super Cup final.

Team news

Real Betis: Rodri and Guido Rodriguez should return to the lineup as Pellergini will need his key man on the pitch. Sadly, Youssouf Sabaly and Paul Akouokou are both sidelined and will miss this clash while Alex Moreno has left the club for a move to Aston Villa. As a result, Miranda could start.

Barcelona: Robert Lewandowski and Jordi Alba are available for selection, but while those two have returned from suspension, Ferran Torres is just entering it after being shown a straight red card in the win over Atletico. This means that Balde and Fati could drop out of the lineup but Kounde, Christensen, and Araujo should start at the back.

Key stats

Barcelona have won all but one of their last seven meetings with Real Betis (L1).
While Los Verdiblancos have gone unbeaten in six of their last eight La Liga outings, they have won only three of those outings and will need to turn more of those draws into victories.
The Blaugrana have won seven out of their last 10 matches.
The Catalan giants are the most successful club in the Spanish Super Cup, making the most final appearances (24) and winning the most number of titles (13).