The Spanish Super Cup has always been something of an acquired taste for fans of LaLiga clubs that have been able to contest the showpiece. Much more so since it moved to Saudi Arabia in mid-season. At least when it was played at the start of a campaign, it was useful as another pre-season run-out if nothing else. Now, it's quite the inconvenience, though it does offer the chance of another trophy, so perhaps there is cachet in having it in the cabinet.
As per the report, Barcelona midfield superstar Pedri will not be a part of the starting lineup to face Espanyol today. The 23-year-old midfielder had missed the Catalans' last game of 2025 against Villarreal due to mild discomfort. However, he has recovered completely from the issue and trained throughout the week and was named in the squad list, along with Dani Olmo.
"He has all the makings of a Ballon d'Or winner," said Planes (h/t MARCA), who had played a key role in convincing Barcelona to sign the player from Las Palmas. Since then, the midfielder has appeared in 221 competitive matches for Barcelona, even recently breaking Lionel Messi's record for being the youngest ever Barcelona player to make 150 La Liga appearances for the club.
Flick is not in favour of pushing anyone through physical issues, particularly at this stage of the season, where a short-term gain could easily lead to a longer absence. For the good Pedri had already raised doubts on Friday after failing to train with the group due to a strain in his left calf. From that moment, his involvement against Villarreal was considered unlikely.
"Right now, I would sign Pedri for Real Madrid. He has Madrid qualities. Everyone would say Lamine, but I think Pedri would be a better signing," said Marcelo. Interestingly, there was a scenario wherein Pedri could have ended up playing for Real Madrid. The midfield superstar was called for a trial at the Spanish capital club during his youth football days, but they ended up rejecting him.
I don't know if there is a wound or not. I can't say anything beyond what Leo means to Barça. That will never change, no matter who is there, no matter when. I don't know if he will return at some point and in what capacity, but the most important thing is what Leo means to Barça.
In an interview on YouTube this week, Pedri was asked to name his favorite La Masia product currently, and he was quick to reveal the name Dro Fernández, who has been part of the first team squad all season and has already made three senior appearances at the age of 17, and grabbed an assist in his Champions League debut earlier in the campaign.
I like Pedri. He's an extraordinary footballer. I love him because he has a history of hard work and overcoming adversity. And above all, he has his own story, Iniesta began saying.
Earlier today, FIFPro, the global union for professional football players, announced the 2025 FIFPro Men's World XI. The FIFPro World XI has been in practice since 2009, with the organisation inviting all professional footballers to compose the best men's and women's teams of the year. An initial 26-player nominee list was unveiled last week, after which the World XI has now been announced, comprising a goalkeeper, three defenders, three midfielders, and three forwards.
However, now, it appears that the initial timeline might have been accurate, as, according to AS, Pedri is likely to be sidelined for a period of 6-7 weeks. If so, it will come as a major blow for Barcelona as their key midfielder might not return immediately after the international break. As things stand, Pedri will miss the Elche game, for which he was already suspended, as well as the matches against Club Brugge and Celta Vigo.
Barcelona have allowed Pedri to take a well-deserved breather by training in the gym rather than joining the group session this morning. The midfielder, who received a red card in the dying minutes of last weekend's El Clasico, will serve his suspension in the upcoming clash against Elche, effectively giving him a rare 10-day break to recharge both mentally and physically.
The two midfielders endured very different fortunes during the match. Bellingham emerged as Real Madrid's hero after scoring the decisive goal, while Pedri endured a nightmare ending, seeing red in the dying moments of the game. However, what truly grabbed attention was Bellingham's remark directed at Pedri, which many have described as disrespectful and unnecessary. The incident took place during the second half, when Pedri appealed to referee Cesar Soto Grado to show Bellingham a red card following a foul.
Pedri also earns his deserved place among the nominees. The midfielder was the heartbeat of Barcelona's treble-winning campaign, delivering six goals and nine assists across 59 appearances. Beyond the statistics, Pedri's intelligence, passing precision, and leadership were instrumental to the team's success. What about Raphinha and Yamal? Meanwhile, Raphinha enjoyed arguably the best season of his career. The Brazilian winger was directly involved in 57 goals - 34 scored and 23 assisted - an extraordinary tally that cements his place among Europe's most decisive attackers.
As reported by Diario AS, Pedri has been one of Barcelona's most used players this season, featuring in 17 official matches and clocking up over 1,400 minutes - around 91% of the club's total game time so far. Constantly tasked with linking defence and attack, Pedri has been carrying the weight of a side that has at times lacked rhythm and cohesion, which has led to visible signs of fatigue and frustration in recent weeks.
