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Saudi Arabia to Host Spanish Super Cup for 5th Time

Real Madrid won the fourth edition of the Spanish Super Cup in Riyadh earlier this year. (SPA)
Real Madrid won the fourth edition of the Spanish Super Cup in Riyadh earlier this year. (SPA)
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Saudi Arabia to Host Spanish Super Cup for 5th Time

Real Madrid won the fourth edition of the Spanish Super Cup in Riyadh earlier this year. (SPA)
Real Madrid won the fourth edition of the Spanish Super Cup in Riyadh earlier this year. (SPA)

The Saudi Ministry of Sport announced on Friday that the Kingdom will host the Spanish Super Cup football competitions for the fifth time.

Real Madrid, Barcelona, Athletic Bilbao and Real Mallorca will play a knockout tournament at Jeddah’s King Abdullah Sports City Stadium between January 8 and 12, 2025.

Real Madrid will face Real Mallorca on January 8, while Barcelona will play against Athletic Bilbao the following day. The winners of each match will advance to the final, scheduled for January 12.

Saudi Arabia hosted four previous editions of the Spanish Super Cup, including in 2020, when Real Madrid won the title after defeating Atlético Madrid.

The second edition, held in 2022, was played in Riyadh, with Real Madrid claiming the title. Barcelona won the third edition by defeating Real Madrid, while Real Madrid lifted the cup in the fourth edition in Riyadh earlier this year.

The Kingdom's hosting of the Spanish Super Cup, part of the Quality of Life Program, reflects Saudi Arabia's success in attracting major regional and international events. This aligns with Saudi Vision 2030 goal to develop and grow the sports sector.

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Ski Great Marcel Hirscher’s Comeback Season Ended by Serious Knee Injury

Marcel Hirscher of Netherlands competes in the first run of the men's slalom race during the FIS Alpine Skiing World Cup in Hochgurgl, Austria on November 24, 2024. (Photo by Johann Groder/ various sources / AFP)
Marcel Hirscher of Netherlands competes in the first run of the men's slalom race during the FIS Alpine Skiing World Cup in Hochgurgl, Austria on November 24, 2024. (Photo by Johann Groder/ various sources / AFP)
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Ski Great Marcel Hirscher’s Comeback Season Ended by Serious Knee Injury

Marcel Hirscher of Netherlands competes in the first run of the men's slalom race during the FIS Alpine Skiing World Cup in Hochgurgl, Austria on November 24, 2024. (Photo by Johann Groder/ various sources / AFP)
Marcel Hirscher of Netherlands competes in the first run of the men's slalom race during the FIS Alpine Skiing World Cup in Hochgurgl, Austria on November 24, 2024. (Photo by Johann Groder/ various sources / AFP)

Ski great Marcel Hirscher’s comeback season after five years away from the sport is over when it had barely begun.

The Austrian star tore the ACL in his left knee “during a harmless slip” while training in giant slalom, he posted on his official website on Tuesday.

“As is unfortunately the case with skiing: part of the game. Maybe I’m finally done with my journey,” said the 35-year-old Hirscher, who had surgery on Monday evening.

Hirscher returned to race this season for the first time since winning a record eighth straight overall World Cup title in March 2019. In three races his best result was 23rd in the season-opening giant slalom at Sölden, Austria.

“The second run was maybe one of the most emotional moments in my career,” Hirscher said after racing on Oct. 27.

The two-time Olympic champion and five-time world champion is the latest ski superstar sidelined by injury.

Aleksander Aamodt Kilde, who succeeded Hirscher as the men’s overall champion in 2020, is missing the whole season with ongoing issues in his recovery from a hard crash in January at the finish of a downhill in Wengen, Switzerland.

Mikaela Shiffrin, the five-time women’s overall champion, was injured crashing on Saturday when in sight of her record-extending 100th World Cup win in a giant slalom at Killington, Vermont.

Hirscher is not the only ski great making a comeback after stopping five years ago.

Lindsey Vonn, at age 40, is preparing to return in the weeks ahead in the speed races of downhill and super-G she used to dominate.