Barcelona Faces Spanish Supercopa Final Against Real Madrid Without Key star

Barcelona is gearing up for a highly anticipated El Clasico Spanish Supercopa final against Real Madrid, but the Catalan giants will have to navigate the clash without the services of key defender Joao Cancelo.

Despite his inclusion in the squad that travelled to Saudi Arabia, Cancelo is set to miss out due to an ongoing injury.

Barcelona manager Xavi Hernandez had initially expressed optimism about Cancelo's availability for the final, but recent developments suggest that the Portugal international won't be fit to participate in the crucial match.

The absence of Cancelo poses a defensive challenge for Barcelona, forcing Xavi to reconsider his lineup strategy for the final. With Spain star Pedri expected to feature against Real Madrid, Xavi might opt for an unchanged defence from the 2-0 semifinal win over Osasuna. Pedri is likely to replace Sergi Roberto in midfield.

Despite the setback, Barcelona remains determined to put up a strong performance in the Spanish Supercopa final. The young talent Lamine Yamal, who made headlines with a record-breaking goal off the bench against Osasuna, is anticipated to be on the bench. 

If he gets the chance to play in the final, the 16-year-old could make history by becoming the youngest-ever El Clasico scorer.

As Barcelona faces the challenge of Real Madrid in the Supercopa final, the absence of Cancelo adds an extra layer of complexity to their defensive setup. Fans eagerly await the outcome of the match, with both teams aiming for supremacy in this high-stakes encounter.