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Thursday, March 28, 2024

Ramos happy with new Super Cup format, ready to fight Atletico in final

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Ramos happy with new Super Cup format, ready to fight Atletico in final
Ramos happy with new Super Cup format, ready to fight Atletico in final

Real Madrid captain Sergio Ramos happy with new Super Cup format, ready to take on rival Atletico in final

SHOWS: JEDDAH, SAUDI ARABIA (JANUARY 11, 2020) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL) 1.

REAL MADRID TRAINING AT KING ABDULLAH SPORTS CITY STADIUM 2.

REAL MADRID CAPTAIN SERGIO RAMOS SPEAKING AT NEWS CONFERENCE 3.

(SOUNDBITE)(Spanish) REAL MADRID CAPTAIN SERGIO RAMOS ON SUPER CUP FORMAT CHANGE, SAYING (ROUGH TRANSLATION): "The format has nothing to do with us, it's the federation, but I think it has been for the best and the competition has gained in value.

The Super Cup recovers value, now there are four competing teams. We benefit this year, we are, in quotes, the guests.

Maybe next year, others will come to dispute it.

Everything is very well organized.

Nothing to reproach, and if the clubs and the Federation benefit economically then it's okay they changed it." 4.

REAL MADRID TRAINING 5.

VARIOUS OF ATLETICO MADRID TRAINING STORY: Real Madrid captain Sergio Ramos says the Spanish Super Cup has been given a boost by its new format and by being transported to Saudi Arabia, as his side prepare to face Atletico Madrid in Sunday's (January 12) final in Jeddah.

Real and Atletico each ended last season empty-handed and would not have qualified for the competition under its previous format as a season curtain-raiser between the Spanish champions and the Copa del Rey winners.

But both sides earned invites in a radical shake-up by the Spanish soccer federation, who will pocket a reported 120 million euros in a three-year deal to hold the competition in Saudi Arabia.

National soccer federation chief Luis Rubiales led a revamp of the Super Cup by expanding the contest between the league champions and Copa del Rey winners to a four-team format, and shifting the event from August to January and pledging to take it outside Spain.

The move to Saudi Arabia has nevertheless led to criticism from human rights groups as well as traditionalist fans of the competition in Spain.

Real outclassed Copa del Rey holders Valencia 3-1 and Atletico produced a stunning fightback to beat La Liga winners Barcelona 3-2, setting up a sixth competitive final between the two city rivals in eight years.

Atletico beat Real in a 2013 Copa del Rey showpiece, the 2014 Super Cup and the 2018 European Super Cup, while Real were the victors in the two sides' 2014 and 2016 Champions League finals.

Real will be without three of their most dangerous forwards in Gareth Bale, Eden Hazard and Karim Benzema through a combination of illness and injuries, while Atletico captain Koke is out for Diego Simeone's side with a muscle problem.

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