Barcelona and Real Madrid renew their rivalry in the two-legged Spanish Supercup that should provide an early indicator of the teams' form ahead of the new season.
The teams met five times last season and this pre-season appointment between champions and cup winners provides two more clashes, starting with tomorrow's first-leg at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium followed by the return at the Camp Nou on Wednesday.
Lionel Messi returns to the comfortable confines of his club team to lead Barcelona after a disappointing Copa America tournament with Argentina. New signing Alexis Sanchez is expected to make his debut while the Catalan club closes in on Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas, whose return to his boyhood club looked imminent last night.
But the Spanish and European champions could be without key players such as Xavi Hernandez, Gerard Pique and Sergio Busquets because of injury. Xavi (leg) and Pique (leg).
Madrid, meanwhile, are waiting on the health of defender Sergio Ramos (back) but new midfielder Nuri Sahin is out with a knee injury. Turkey midfielder Hamit Altintop (back) also misses out. Coach Jose Mourinho has brought in five new players, including Portugal full-back Fabio Coentrao for e30 million.
