Struggling Barcelona in need of another Super Cup boost in Riyadh

It was back on January 12, 2022, in Saudi Arabia when Barcelona fans first saw promise in a Xavi side.

The Catalans lost the game, a Clasico against Real Madrid, but the performance was Barcelona’s best of what had been a troubled season.

Lionel Messi had departed at its start, Antoine Griezmann, too. Sergio Aguero had to retire after barely playing. After a trio of 3-0 defeats, Barcelona failed to progress from their Champions League group for the first time since 2003, and had been as low as ninth in the league by October, prompting the dismissal of Ronald Koeman and the arrival of Xavi.

In Riyadh, a Barcelona side featuring a youthful forward line twice came from behind to make it 2-2 after 90 minutes, before Fede Valverde grabbed Madrid’s winner.

It barely mattered. Barca had been the better side and proved they could go toe-to toe with the runaway La Liga winners Madrid again.

Midfielder Gavi, 17, could match Casemiro, Luca Modric and Toni Kroos. Two months later, Barcelona went to the Bernabeu and won 4-0. A season later, they were Spanish champions once more.

However, the path has been far from smooth since, at a time when financial problems and stadium redevelopment have combined for one of the most turbulent periods in Barcelona’s history.

This season hasn't been a great one. They trail Real Madrid and Catalan neighbours Girona by seven points at the halfway stage of La Liga. They are also playing in front of lower than expected crowds at their temporary Olympic Stadium home.

True, they qualified from their Champions League group for the first time in three years, something about which Xavi pointedly asked why no journalist had congratulated him on last month. After all, Manchester United and Newcastle United,