Spanish Super Cup: FC Barcelona vs Athletic Club - LIVE STREAM

 

FC Barcelona are set on pulling off the impossible against Athletic in the return leg of the Spanish Super Cup. After being thrashed 4-0 at San Mamés, it seems that there is little that ‘Los Azulgranas’ can do. However, Luis Enrique and his men think otherwise and will be fielding their best team at the Camp Nou to face one of their biggest challenges yet in their crusade for the straight six titles.

The Super Cup is just as important for Athletic, but for entirely different reasons: it will be their first after 31 years without bringing home any new silverware.

Neymar out for two weeks with parotitis (mumps)

The first team medical staff at FC Barcelona has announced on Sunday that Neymar will be out for two weeks after being diagnosed with parotitis (mumps), despite the fact that he had previously been vaccinated against the disease.

Therefore, the Brazilian striker will miss the European Super Cup final on Tuesday in Tibilisi, Georgia against Sevilla and also the Spanish Super Cup final which sees Luis Enrique's team take on Athletic Club over two legs on 14 and 17 August.

Confirmed: Alba will miss Super Cup games

Jordi Alba will definitely miss three official matches of the season, which will include two Super Cup games, as a consequence of an injury suffered during the Joan Gamper trophy match.

The player was subject to more medical tests on Thursday morning at the Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper, which confirmed that the Catalan defender suffered a tendon injury in his right leg and he will be absent for 15 days.

Due to this, the medical staff have confirmed the worst possible news for the full-back, as there isn't time to return him to fitness ahead of playing in the Super Cups.

The first official Barcelona game of the season will arrive next Tuesday, the 11th of August, with the European Super Cup against Sevilla.

Only three days later, the team will face the first leg of the Spanish Super Cup in Bilbao, before playing the return fixture on the 17th at Camp Nou. Alba will be unavailable throughout.

Alba picked up the injury in the 76th minute, only half an hour after he replaced Vermaelen as a substitute.

Bartomeu: "We want to win all six trophies next season"

Barça club president Josep Maria Bartomeu spoke at a presentation ceremony for the Bill and Melinda Gates Fund, giving his thoughts on last season: "It was fantastic for us, a marvellous season, the best in our history. We won everything and with great statistics too."

"It was the second time we have won the treble - La Liga, Champions League, Copa del Rey - and all of the city was very content and happy."

He also spoke on the objectives for the new season: "This year we intend to work with the same team, but also with players who can give us more competition inside the squad, like Arda and Vidal."
"In our opinion, our team is going to be more competitive. This year we have to go for six trophies and we want to win them all. It is not going to be easy, but we are going to try and do it."