Tonight, the world will witness a new Clásico in the Spanish Super Cup final, the third in a row between Barcelona and Real Madrid. The victories of each team in the previous encounters have made this match decisive in breaking the tie between the two teams.
Hansi Flick hopes to repeat the great result his team achieved last October, when they managed to beat Real Madrid 4-0 at the Santiago Bernabéu.
However, the situation has changed radically since that match. Barcelona’s remarkable series of victories has turned into a crisis of results, which has led to them losing the lead in La Liga.
In contrast, Real Madrid has gradually begun to regain their level and has started to meet expectations little by little. Therefore, the scenario will be completely different in this encounter, and Flick plans to make some changes to his lineup, including reinstating Ronald Araujo in the starting XI.
According to information from the Spanish newspaper “El Nacional,” although the German coach has not yet made his final decision, he is considering giving Araujo a chance to play.
The player has only appeared in one match this season, against Barbastro in the Copa del Rey, and despite lacking competitive rhythm after a long absence due to a serious muscle injury, it cannot be overlooked that he was the leader of Barcelona’s defense until recently and was considered one of the best defenders in the world.
Ronald Araujo is the most prominent candidate to return to the starting lineup, as he is a powerful asset against Vinícius Júnior, thanks to his speed and strength. These attributes could also prove useful against other players, such as Kylian Mbappé, Rodrygo Goes, or Jude Bellingham.
The big question is: Who will give up their place in the lineup to make way for Araujo? Jules Koundé seems to be out of the discussion, leaving the choice between Pau Coparsi and Íñigo Martínez. La Masia player Coparsi is likely to remain on the bench.