Football Bet of the Day: Barcelona to be breached once more

The 40th edition of the Spanish Super Cup gets underway in Saudi Arabia this week, with Real Madrid facing rivals Atletico on Wednesday and La Liga champions Barcelona taking on Copa Del Rey runners-up Osasuna on Thursday, with both matches and Sunday’s final taking place in Riyadh.

The four-team format is relatively new - only being introduced for the 2019-20 season - and it sees the quartet of sides battle it out in one-legged semi-finals for a place in the final.

No side has lifted the Super Cup more than Barcelona, who earned their 14th title last season, and they will be keen to put some gloss on a so-far miserable season by gaining their 15th success in the competition this week.

Barcelona have not impressed in their La Liga title defence thus far, sitting in third and seven points behind bitter rivals Real Madrid and surprise package Girona.

Injuries and absence from the Nou Camp have disrupted the champions’ campaign but Xavi’s side should still be performing better with the players at their disposal, including the likes of Robert Lewandowski, Frenkie de Jong, Ilkay Gundogan and Joao Felix.

A huge reason for their success last season was their exceptional defensive record, with the Catalonians conceding just 20 times in their 38 La Liga games, but their rearguard has been nowhere near that level this time around.

Barcelona have already conceded two more league goals in 19 games this season than they did in the entirety of the previous campaign and they are feeling the absence of goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen massively.

They have recorded just one clean sheet in their last ten matches and conceded twice to fourth-tier side Barbastro in the Copa Del Rey in their last match, which should give Osasuna some confidence ahead of this fixture.

Los Rojijos have enjoyed a mixed season so far, sitting comfortably in mid-table in La Liga, but have picked up some form lately and have lost only once in their last six matches.

They have found the net in their last 11 matches, scoring against highflying Real Sociedad and twice against title-chasing Girona in that run, and should be backed to breach a leaky Barcelona backline in Riyadh.

Barca have conceded 13 goals in their last six matches, despite facing La Liga basement boys Almeria, Champions League strugglers Antwerp and fourth-tier Barbastro in that run, and look likely to be breached once more by a more-than-capable Osasuna.

However, Barcelona won 2-1 in the last meeting between these sides and Los Rojijos have not recorded a victory over La Blaugrana since 2020, suggesting the 2023 La Liga and Super Cup champions are the likelier to progress to the final.

Xavi’s side are just 1-3 to win the tie however, so taking Osasuna to net against a leaky in defence in defeat looks the better play, with odds of 7/4 available for such an outcome.

Check out the rest of other Football Bets of the Day here.