Facing Real in final ‘huge motivation’ for Barcelona

Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti said his team are still hungry for success as Barcelona find motivation in facing their arch-rivals in a Spanish Super Cup final showdown on Sunday.

The Catalans failed to win a trophy last season and are looking for their first since coach Xavi arrived in November 2021, while Real Madrid won a Champions League and La Liga double.

The sides meet in a Clasico at the King Fahd International Stadium in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and Ancelotti thinks his players will be equally motivated, despite their success.

"We are talking about players that started winning in 2013, have kept winning and have never filled their stomachs and they never will fill them," Ancelotti told reporters Saturday.

Madrid are the record 14 time-Champions League winners, with five of those trophies arriving from 2014 onwards.

Ancelotti has a fine record in finals, having lost just one of the last 10 in which his teams have competed in -- against Atletico Madrid in the 2014 Spanish Super Cup.

"Statistics are there to be changed," Barcelona coach Xavi told a news conference.

"It is a difficult game but I want to think positively. We have to take stock of where we are, that we have Real Madrid in front of us is a huge motivation."

Xavi said winning in the final would mean more to Barcelona because the opponent was Madrid.

"We have not won a trophy for a long time, we have to show that we want it, that is non-negotiable," added the coach.