# El Clasico in Saudi Arabia: The 3-year wait is finally over

URL: https://technosports.co.in/saudi-arabia-el-clasico-3-years-wait/  
Published: 2022-01-11  
Updated: 2022-01-11  
Author: Arsh Das

Barcelona and Real Madrid will collide once again this season, in the Supercopa de Espana semi-final. The game will take place in Saudi Arabia, and has been on the waiting list for the last three years. 

The country has been desperate to host football’s biggest game over the last few years. While they could have set up a friendly between the two clubs, they wanted the stakes to be higher. And now, they have the highly anticipated fixture on the cards. 

## Saudi Arabia’s three-year wait pays off for El Clasico

> Ancelotti: "Barcelona will always be Real Madrid's rival. The match is called El Clasico for a reason. On paper, we are the favorites and we will do our best. At the same time, Barcelona will do well too. The Super Cup is the first title of the year and everyone wants to win." [pic.twitter.com/JrSU9FlmLN](https://t.co/JrSU9FlmLN)
>
> — Barça Universal (@BarcaUniversal) [January 9, 2022](https://twitter.com/BarcaUniversal/status/1479978606625447949?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

The country had [signed a deal to host the Supercopa de Espana for three years](https://en.as.com/en/2022/01/08/soccer/1641598385_283293.html), from 2020 to 2022. The first year saw Atletico Madrid knock out Barcelona in the semi-finals of the competition. 

Real Madrid finished second behind league winners and city rivals Atletico Madrid, while Barcelona won the Copa del Rey. Atletico will take on Athletic Bilbao to determine who progresses to the final. 

The other participant of the final will be determined by El Clasico. Real Madrid have been in tremendous form over the last few months, and are deservingly at the top spot in La Liga. On the other hand, Xavi’s Barcelona have struggled badly in the last few years, and things aren’t looking much better for them right now. 

Los Blancos have also [won the first La Liga El Clasico of the](https://technosports.co.in/2021/10/24/barcelona-2-1-real-madrid-alaba-scores-stunning-first-goal-as-madrid-win-clasico/)[season,](https://technosports.co.in/2021/10/24/barcelona-2-1-real-madrid-alaba-scores-stunning-first-goal-as-madrid-win-clasico/) and are heading into the game with that advantage as well. So, it will be a very difficult game for Xavi and his team, as they are the less favoured team in the game.