Different Format, Spanish Super Cup Held in Morocco

DBasia.news – Every Europe top leagues have their own tradition to open the new competition. England with the Community Shield, while Italy with the Italy Super Cup.

The same thing goes to Spain, with Spanish Super Cup to open the La Liga. Two teams that will have a match are defending champions of La Liga and Copa del Rey. But for this year, the case will be different because both of the trophies were achieved by Barcelona last season.

So, Barcelona as the champion of La Liga will face the runner-up of Copa del Rey, Sevilla. RFEF, the Real Federación Española de Fútbol is deciding the time and date to conduct the Spanish Super Cup.

As reported by ESPN, the Spanish Super Cup will be conducted outside Spain for the first time, which is in Tangier Stadium, Morocco, on Sunday (12/8). The match will be on 9 pm Morocco time. Tangier Stadium has 45.000 audiences capacity.

Playing in a neutral place, the match format will also differ. This year, the Spanish Super Cup will be conducted once, no longer with two legs home-away system applied since 1982.

Sevilla was rejecting the format, but the majority vote from RFEF Executive Committee won. RFEF president, Luis Rubiales explained more about the Spanish Super Cup.

“It has been a unanimous decision made by the committee to play the Supercup as a single game on 12th August on a neutral ground. The most likely venue will be Tangier. We considered other options such as Valencia and Madrid but the financial aspect wasn’t there,” said Rubiales.

“The temperature in Tangier will be suitable as will the financial aspect. One of the clubs wanted a financial compensation of €950,000 and playing in Tangier that figure will be more than met. But we have to wait for FIFA’s approval,” he continued.

Barcelona won the Spanish Super Cup with 12 times winning record, while Sevilla got it once in 2007. The match versus Sevilla is also the reunion moment for Barcelona defender, Clement Lenglet.