UEFA Super Cup preview: Real Madrid v Sevilla
Monday, August 8, 2016
Article summary
"The only thing that I'm concerned about is whether we are ready, and we are," said Zinédine Zidane, with his patched-together Real Madrid expecting a hard ride from Jorge Sampaoli's Sevilla.
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Article body
- Real Madrid and Sevilla meet in fourth all-Spanish UEFA Super Cup
- Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale not involved for Madrid
- Zinédine Zidane hoping Karim Benzema can shake off back injury
- Who have the clubs signed and sold over the summer?
- How have Real Madrid and Sevilla fared in pre-season?
Possible line-ups
Real Madrid: Casilla; Carvajal, Varane, Ramos, Marcelo; Casemiro, Modrić, Isco; James Rodríguez, Lucas Vázquez, Morata.
Out: Ronaldo (knee), Navas (Achilles), Coentrão (hamstring), Kroos (match fitness), Bale (match fitness), Pepe (match fitness)
Doubtful: Benzema (back)
- Ronaldo misses out with the knee problem he sustained in the UEFA EURO 2016 final, with Bale, Pepe and Toni Kroos given further time to recover from their exploits in France this summer.
Sevilla: Soria; Ferreira, Pareja, Carriço, Escudero; Kranevitter, Correa, Iborra; Sarabia, Konoplyanka, Vietto.
Out: Trémoulinas (knee), Krohn-Dehli (knee)
- Four of the team that started last season's UEFA Europa League final – Grzegorz Krychowiak, Kevin Gameiro, Éver Banega and Coke – as well as three-time UEFA Europa League-winning coach Unai Emery have left over the summer.
Coach quotes
Zinédine Zidane, Real Madrid
We have a cup final with two teams who are both capable of winning; the only thing that I'm concerned about is whether we are ready, and we are. Pre-season was very good. We have had time to prepare ourselves. We'll see what happens with Karim Benzema tomorrow, but the important thing is that he's with us. We need to do everything we can; we need to give it our all from the first minute, to work hard, to concentrate. In football you never know what can happen. It's 50-50.
Jorge Sampaoli, Sevilla
I'm really pleased to be here and to be involved in this final. Our new style needs some time to settle in. The most important thing is that the players believe in it. Madrid have played some top-class friendlies already and the fact that they are missing some key players will not in any way diminish their quality. I'd like my team to approach the game with real desire and to honour their badge. I don't like any side to dominate mine on the pitch.
Reporter's view: Daniel Thacker in Trondheim (@UEFAcomDanielT)
This promises to be an intriguing encounter. European champions Madrid arrive with Zidane pondering the luxury dilemma of whether to select Karim Benzema as a lone striker or pair him with Álvaro Morata, who has returned to the club over the summer. It has been all change at Sevilla, meanwhile, not least with the arrival of Sampaoli, who has vowed to impose his high-octane brand of football. It will be fascinating to see how he plans to beat Madrid in his first game at the helm.
Super Cup record
Real Madrid: P4 W2 L2 F6 A4 (won in 2002 and 2014)
Sevilla: P4 W1 L3 F8 A10 (won in 2006)
Did you know?
Both teams are making a fifth UEFA Super Cup appearance; only Barcelona (9), AC Milan (7) and Liverpool (5) can better or match that. Find out more facts in our extensive match background.