2015 Spanish Super Cup Preview: Barcelona Gunning for Fifth Consecutive Trophy

Aug 14, 2015 09:16 AM EDT

(Photo : Getty Images) BARCELONA, SPAIN - MAY 30: Lionel Messi of FC Barcelona competes for the ball with Mikel Rico of Athletic Club on his way to scores the opening goal during the Copa del Rey Final match between FC Barcelona and Athletic Club at Camp Nou on May 30, 2015 in Barcelona, Spain.

FC Barcelona will be going after a fifth consecutive trophy this year when they face Club Athletic Bilbao in this year's Spanish Super Cup. The first leg will be played on Friday at the San Mames in Bilbao, and the return leg is scheduled for Monday, August 17.

Barcelona has qualified into the Spanish Super Cup after winning the Primera Liga for the 2014/15 season. They also won the Copa del Rey, where they defeated Athletic Bilbao. With Barcelona winning both local competitions, they will be facing Copa runners-up Bilbao in the Spanish Super Cup.

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Apart from La Liga and the Copa, the Catalan giants also won the UEFA Champions League back in May. They triumphed over Italian champions Juventus. More recently, they defeated Spanish side Sevilla in a thrilling UEFA Super Cup just this Tuesday. They won 5-4 through an extra-time goal by substitute Pedro.

With the Primera Liga, Copa del Rey, UEFA Champions League and UEFA Super Cup already under their belt, the Spanish Super Cup title would make this one of the most successful seasons for any club in history. Before thinking about the amazing possibility, Athletic Bilbao still stands in their way.

According to Bleacher Report, the Basque team won only one out of their five pre-season games. However, this isn't any indication of their true form. Bilbao lost one and finished the other three games with deadlocks. Barcelona won two of their last five games but they suffered three losses.

Looking at their last 5 matches in the pre-season, no clear favorite could be seen. However, their last head-to-head was at the Copa del Rey final, where Barcelona dominated with a 3-1 victory at the Cam Nou. Neymar is still likely to miss the first leg of the Super Cop but Lionel Messi is in top form. Barcelona are clear favorites but with Sevilla having dragged them into extra time on Tuesday, Bilbao can't be written off just yet.

The 1^st leg of the Spanish Super Cup takes place on Friday, August 14, at 10 p.m. (local time), 9 p.m. (BST) at the San Mames in Bilbao.

TagsSpanish Super Cup, First Leg, Athletic Bilbao, La Liga, UEFA Champions League, Uefa Super Cup, Copa del Rey, Trophy