REAL MADRID vs BARCELONA: Watch Live Online Stream, Plus TV Coverage, Prediction, and Preview for the Spanish Supercopa
The most anticipated match since Euro 2012 kicks off on Wednesday when La Liga titans Real Madrid travel to Camp Nou for the first leg of the Spanish SuperCopa.
The match consists of the previous year's Copa del Rey champions, Barcelona, against the title holder of La Liga, Real Madrid.
The match will be played at 4:30 pm eastern time, and can be watched on U.S. television on ESPN Deportes and in the U.K. on Sky Sports 2. It can be watched online here: http://espn.go.com/watchespn/index/_/source/espn3/
The match not only features perhaps the two most prominent clubs in the world, but also the two best players. Barcelona winger Lionel Messi and Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo are expected to be finalists again for the FIFA Ballon d'Or.
Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho has played down the significance of the clash.
"If losing the Supercopa is a motivation for winning La Liga I would take that, but I believe it is the least important of the four competitions," said Mourinho.
Mourinho will be without centre back Pepe, who knocked heads with goalkeeper teammate Iker Casillas in the club's league opener against Valencia.
The SuperCopa match marks Barcelona manager Tito Vilanova's first game at the helm of perhaps the most successful club in the world. The former assistant has big shoes to fill with the departure of Pep Guardiola.
The Catalans are basically at full strength. Carles Puyol is expected to play for Barcelona. Alexis Sanchez is also expected to play, as well. New addition Alex Song may also see playing time.
"Alexis could play tomorrow. I haven't yet decided who'll play alongside Messi," Vilanova said. "We will decide tomorrow if Song plays. He has quality and could play."
Probable lineups:
Barcelona
G: Valdes
D: Mascherano, Puyol, Alba, Alves
M: Busquets, Xavi, Iniesta
F: Sanchez, Messi, Pedro
Real Madrid
G: Casillas
D: Ramos, Albiol, Coentrao, Arbeloa
M: Alonso, Diarra, Ozil, Di Maria
F: Higuain, Ronaldo
Prediction: Barcelona will be fired up at home and with a new head coach. Real Madrid will miss Pepe's tenacity, and will need reserves to improve on rather poor showing against Valencia.
Predicted Score: Barcelona over Real Madrid, 3-1
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