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He FC Barcelona and the Athletic Club will be measured in the Final of the Spanish Super Cup 2021. The set of Ronald Koeman beat Real Sociedad on penalties in a very even game, while Marcelino’s gave the surprise and defeated Real Madrid 1-2 in the second semi-final. A Marcelino who landed just two weeks ago in Bilbao and wants to win his first Athletic title against an opponent who, historically, it has not been good at all.
Although Marcelino’s most recent memory is the victory in the Copa del Rey final with Valencia, Barça has been his black beast throughout his 14 years as a coach. In fact, in his debut as a rojiblanco coach he fell to the Blaugrana team with a double of Messi and a bit of Pedri.
Marcelino Garcia Toral He has faced Barça 22 times, with a balance of one victory, six draws and fifteen defeats. However, that victory came in a Copa del Rey final. In that meeting, his Valencia surpassed the team led at that time by Ernesto Valverde thanks to the goals of Gameiro and Rodrigo. Messi closed the gap in the 73rd minute, but it was insufficient for the Villaviciosa-born coach to lift his first title.
A prolonged losing streak in time
Although it is true that Marcelino began training humble teams and from the lower zone as Recreativo, Racing and Zaragoza, had not been able to beat Barça with the Sevilla, Villarreal and Valencia. In fact, eI spent almost six years without even achieving a draw against the Blaugranas: from September 22, 2010 to March 20, 2016. In that period of time he spent at Sevilla, just six months, and Villarreal, a club where he spent three seasons.
Marcelino and Koeman will meet for the second time in eleven days
Vincent West (REUTERS)
With the yellow set. Marcelino faced eight times with a balance of one draw and seven defeats, two of them in the semifinals of the Copa del Rey. When he arrived at Valencia he did not manage to change the dynamics despite the equality of the duels and the excellent level that his team gave during the two seasons in which he was on the bench.
However, the only precedent against Barça in a final ended with the aforementioned victory. To that and to the good shape of the Athletic clings to the Bilbao team to regain a title almost five years later that he did it, precisely, against Barcelona in the same competition.