Arabia Cup Semis: Barca - Bilbao 5-0

FCBarca

FCBarca

Truth
khaled_a_d said:
It has been like that in all 2020's irc. Why do you folks just realising it now?

And it has been the case for other Spanish clubs as well, along Italians who do the same.
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I assumed this was a combo of Saudis trying to whitewash their image and the pandemic but I have to say I completely agree with Iñaki - it's very odd to play these matches anywhere but in Spain. Yes, I get there is money to be made and certainly support will be there in terms of attendance but your club's fans are primarily based in Spain

Matchday experience is being treated as a secondary product vs commercial broadcast for a global one. Yet, the financial math cannot be ignored - it is undoubtedly a massive debt-hole filler. Club pocketed around 9M last year for winning the SuperCopa in 2025, if we win this time the total will reach 10M.

By comparison, FA cup (at least 6 matches) collects 2M - not bad for just 2 matches, max

Perhaps the fallout will be increased attendances in lower leagues, who knows?
 
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khaled_a_d

khaled_a_d

Senior Member
FCBarca said:
I assumed this was a combo of Saudis trying to whitewash their image and the pandemic
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You are spot on on the pros and cons, but I don't get the timing of this talk.

They played it in Morocco in 2018, in a one game format rather than the historical home and away.

Next season (January 2020) it was played in Saudi in cup format. Then due to Covid they stopped that in 2021.

This doesn't make sense, the last time it was played in Spain that wasn't due to Pandemic was 2017, over 8 years. Bilbao played in Saudi before too, in fact this is their 3rd time.

The time to complain was half decade ago, now it is a reality that lasted for too long. A reality that improved his own paycheck in the past few years too, regardless of whether it makes sense or not.

His wife is about to give delivery to his baby (congratulations to them) and he just realises "oh, why I can't be close to her" and complaining is weird, and for fans to act like it is a new issue, I don't know why tbh
 
FCBarca

FCBarca

Truth
I think its a fair criticism no? I mean, Saudi is nowhere near Spain and consider Athletic and how much their traveling fans add to a matchday experience. I can recall CDR matches where the atmosphere was electric, cup competitions are best played before your fans

Again, I get the fiscal aspect of it and truth is that occasionally going outside of country (we do pre-season tours, exhibitions etc. already) is fine to get the bag but titles?

I think this has to stay within the country when it comes to titles. 2018 was just the final as a trial and Morocco is a hop skip & a jump from Spain, Saudi is altogether different - plus there are zero Saudis playing at Barça if not La Liga. But I agree it was the litmus test and it was successful. Perhaps only the final?
 
serghei

serghei

Senior Member
It's good to build momentum and it is always nice if you can spank Madrid in an official game. Other than that... it is not a real title. Copa del Rey is far more important to me.

Losing it can be useful in a way also if you can learn from it and use what you learn for league and CL ambitions. Somewhat of a useful test before the real ones appear in CL knockouts and 2nd part of the league campaign. If you can insert some doubt and turmoil in the Madrid camp, even better.
 
P

Porque

Senior Member
There is no doubt to me that moving it to both midseason and having it as a mini tournament has increased the prestige of the event.

It was previously a two leg summer affair (ooh aah) anyways, so in terms of games played nothing is changed. Plus travel to Saudi is only 5/6 hours.

Hey, I don't particularly want it, but I'd be lying if I said I won't watch it or that I don't want to see us win it.
 
MonteCuler

MonteCuler

Well-known member
To me it's only important if we play Madrid in final. Every el clasico is important. But of course not end of the world if you lose it (although no doubt it will be perceived as such in case we don't win by our dramatic fanbase)

But if we play Bilbao and Atletico honestly couldn't care less. Nice if we win but holds very little importance
 
GloryHunter 007

GloryHunter 007

Well-known member
MonteCuler said:
To me it's only important if we play Madrid in final. Every el clasico is important. But of course not end of the world if you lose it (although no doubt it will be perceived as such in case we don't win by our dramatic fanbase)

But if we play Bilbao and Atletico honestly couldn't care less. Nice if we win but holds very little importance
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Dude you are beating Real and you are winning league. Maybe even cup.

Definetly not winning UCL though.
 
serghei

serghei

Senior Member
Meh. Winning CL is end goal. EPL teams in nearly 50 years of CL era, City 1, Chelsea 2, Arsenal zero, United 2, Liverpool 2. Only Madrid win it with any sort of regularity.
 
Loki

Loki

Well-known member
Lamine Yamal will be on the BENCH tonight. Flick wants to be cautious and reserve him for a potential FINAL. [@monfortcarlos]

Good decision. Should be able to beat them without him, or if needed the last 30 minutes. No risk for potentional final.
 
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