BARCELONA, SPAIN - MAY 06: Karim Benzema of Real Madrid shoots as Marc-Andre ter Stegen of Barcelona ... [+]
With just 1200 tickets sold among supporters of the four clubs - Atletico Madrid, FC Barcelona, Real Madrid and Valencia - which will participate in the tournament, the Spanish Super Cup contested in Saudi Arabia this week is thought of as a money-spinning sham by most LaLiga enthusiasts.
And though the spectacle is evidently popular with the locals in the Middle Eastern nation, they will be unable to see 10 top stars in action as originally put forward by Mundo Deportivo yet analyzed further below.
MADRID, SPAIN - OCTOBER 05: Eden Hazard of Real Madrid celebrates with Gareth Bale, Alvaro ... [+]
Karim Benzema
A Pichichi top scorer contender to rival Lionel Messi this season, the Frenchman has, according to MARCA, ‘suffered an injury in the semimembranosus muscle injury in his left leg.’
Rested against Osasuna, Thursday’s semi-final against Valencia and a potential final would be the first matches he has missed through injury in 2019/2020.
Gareth Bale
Catching an infection ‘in the upper respiratory tract’, the Welshman will also not form part of any front line attack but could apparently make a late cameo in the final if Zinedine Zidane’s troops gets there.
Marco Asensio
Rupturing his cruciate ligament in preseason, there was unfortunately no way that the Spainiard’s name was ever going to appear on the squad list that travelled with the 13-time European champions.
Eden Hazard
Injuring his right ankle in a meaty collision with compatriot Thomas Meunier as Los Blancos drew 2-2 to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League, the Belgian star who celebrates his 29th birthday today is still out of action.
With he, Bale and Benzema unavailable, this paves the way for the likes of Vinicius Jr, Rodrygo and Luka Jovic to make their mark and impress their coach.
(L-R) Ousmane Dembele of FC Barcelona, Arthur Henrique Ramos de Oliveira Melo of FC Barcelona during ... [+]
Marc Andre Ter Stegen
In order to do this, the mentioned trio will not have to get past one of the world’s best ‘keepers if we are treated to a Clasico finale with Barcelona.
Nursing a knee knock, it is still unknown when the German will return and in the meantime, Neto will fill in between the sticks.
Ousmane Dembélé
Pulling up 24 minutes into a continental clash with Borussia Dortmund in late November, the Frenchman was ruled out for five weeks and is still yet to fully recover from a left hamstring strain.
Arthur
His mysterious pubis pain problems continuing, it was confirmed at the turn of the year that the midfielder must sit out a further three weeks. Like Dembélé, and possibly Ter Stegen, a January 19 LaLiga fixture against Granada at the Camp Nou perhaps provides a realistic return date.
LEVERKUSEN, GERMANY - NOVEMBER 06: Diego Costa of Atletico de Madrid runs during the UEFA Champions ... [+]
Diego Costa
Diagnosed ‘with a herniated cervical disc’ two months ago, it is believed the striker could miss a considerable chunk of what remains in 2019/2020. Still able to rely on Alvarao Morata and Joao Felix however, Atletico boast an attacking threat to unsettle Barça in their semi-final showdown on Thursday.
VALENCIA, SPAIN - JANUARY 04: Rodrigo Moreno of Valencia reacts during the Liga match between ... [+]
Rodrigo
A sprained knee finds the Brazilian-born Spain forward unable to play any part in the Copa del Rey holders’ quest to land a second successive trophy. He will, though, travel with the rest of the pack as moral support.
Gonçalo Guedes
So too will his fellow Portuguese-speaking associate Guedes. In a worrying development and fate that Barcelona fans will hope Arthur avoids, the Portuguese is off bounds for a further month or so upon undergoing an operation aimed at tackling continual pubis issues.
