2014 UEFA Super Cup: Real Madrid vs Sevilla - Match Preview

The UEFA Super Cup 2014, contested between winners of the UEFA Champions League and the Europa League will be an all-Spanish affair to be settled tonight. We have Real Madrid’s La Decima side locking horns with Sevilla who are the current Europa League champions. The match will be played at Cardiff City Stadium, Wales the home to World record signing Gareth Bale. The match provides an early shot for both the sides to have a go at another European silverware.
Real Madrid will be motivated to introduce their new Galactico James Rodriguez, the Golden Boot winner to everyone. The £91m local boy Gareth Bale will be raring to go after a no show for Wales in the world cup. At the same time, Sevilla’s squad worth just under £86m and lost their skipper Rakitic to Barcelona, will be chalking out a strategy to stop Real’s terrorizing attack and strike first blood for tonight’s match.
The match comes with good news for Sevilla as Ronaldo, still recovering from an injury last season is a doubt for the finale. Los Blancos have signed Keylor Navas during the close-season to compete with out of form club captain Iker Casillas for the No.1 jersey. While Madrid’s midfielder Xabi Alonso is suspended for the match, he will hardly be missed as Ancelotti has given indications that he might introduce Kroos in this match’s line-up. With the Welsh-Jesus Bale ready to fire Real to glory and Benzema settled after contract extension, it would be an early test for the Sevillian defence.
At the opposite end of the picture Sevilla President Jose Castro has denied about any Liverpool deal in place for left-back Alberto Moreno. The team will start with Barcelona loanee Denis Suarez, who came on loan in exchange for sale of skipper Ivan Rakitic to the Catalan club for €20m this summer. Importantly their striker force consisting of Bacca and Kevin Gameiro have enough firepower to trouble any defence and especially the leaky-one lacking match practice like Real’s. Moreover, Iago Aspas who joins on loan from Liverpool and midfielder Grzegorz Krychowiak bought from Reims are both expected to start.
This is the first all-Spanish Super Cup match since 2006, which also saw Sevilla take part. Last time they beat Barcelona 3-0 to win the Super Cup that year. That match will surely serve as an early season test of the two sides preparations going into the new campaign. But with two weeks before the start of Spain’s domestic BBVA Primera Liga, it is by no means a definitive demonstration of form. With little time for Real stars to train and get back in shape, Sevilla might have some edge from a physical and pre-season point of view.
Sevilla go into the game as underdogs and an unknown side at the moment because a lot of new players have arrived. Most of Madrid’s players were at the World Cup and just returned from their holidays while Emery’s side have had more time to gel and work together in summer. Moreover, uncertainty over who will be the starting goalkeeper for Madrid, the Sevilla strikers will be all set for the occasion. With a clear advantage and a great opportunity to win another title, they might be a surprise package against the ten times Champions League winners.