Barcelona vs. Real Madrid: What to Expect from Spanish Super Cup 1st Leg

Whenever these teams meet, anything can happen.

Barcelona and Real Madrid are set to contest the Supercopa de España first leg Thursday at Barcelona's Camp Nou. Kickoff is set for 4:30 p.m. ET, with American television coverage handled by ESPN Deportes.

The second leg is scheduled for Aug. 29 at the Bernabeu.

Much like the FA Community Shield, the Spanish Super Cup matches the past season's league winners (Real Madrid) against the champions of the domestic cup (Barcelona) in what's supposed to be a glorified friendly.

With Real and Barca involved, there's little chance of that.

By next weekend, we will have seen two more El Clasicos, and if history is any guide—Barcelona defeated Real Madrid 5-4 last season over two legs—the Super Cup will be a fiery, tempestuous affair.

Here's a guide to Thursday's first leg.

The Season of Records

Real Madrid won Spain's La Liga last season, amassing a record 100 points. That was not the only record Los Blancos broke.

During the so-called "league of records," Real also set new marks for goals scored (121), goal differential (plus-89), total matches won (32) and away matches won (16).

Barcelona, meanwhile, was only slightly less impressive, winning 28 league matches, scoring 114 goals and amassing 91 points. Their reward was the Copa del Rey title in manager Pep Guardiola's final match in charge of the team (more on that later).

Neither team, however, captured the ultimate prize: the UEFA Champions League.

The Superstars

Every El Clasico in recent seasons has become more than a match between Barca and Real. It's become a referendum on determining the best player in the world.

In Barcelona's corner stands Lionel Messi, the diminutive Argentine forward who scored an outrageous 73 goals last season in all competitions. Generally considered the best player in the world today—and even one of the best of all time at the age of only 25—Messi has won the last three Ballon d'Or/FIFA World Player of the Year (the two merged in 2010) awards.

Real Madrid counter with Cristiano Ronaldo, the stylish, suave, super-talented Portuguese attacker whose fame off the pitch matches his stardom on it. Ronaldo, 27, won the FIFA World Player of the Year award in 2009, and some still think he's better than Messi.

The debate will rage on after Thursday's match, as it probably will for a few more years. But every time these teams meet, onlookers can't help but compare their superstars.

The Supporting Casts

Both teams' supporting casts are only slightly less impressive than their superstars.

Real Madrid's midfield features German playmaker Mesut Ozil and pass-master Xabi Alonso. Angel Di Maria, Gonzalo Higuain and Karim Benzema form a fearsome attack, while stars like Pepe, Sergio Ramos and Marcelo lock down the defense.

Barcelona, meanwhile, might have the world's best midfield with Spanish World Cup (and Euro) winners Xavi Hernandez, Andres Iniesta and Sergio Busquets. Alex Song recently joined from Arsenal, adding even more depth.

Up top, guys like Cesc Fabregas, Alexis Sanchez and David Villa vie for playing time, and the back line is full of stars like Dani Alves, Gerard Pique and Carles Puyol.

So far this summer, Real have yet to add any new names. In addition to Song, Barcelona added full-back Jordi Alba, who impressed with Spain at Euro 2012.

But even without new signings for Real, both squads are packed with world-class stars.

The Managers

Superstar Portuguese manager Jose Mourinho leads Real Madrid against a new Barcelona counterpart this season. As expected, Pep Guardiola left the club in the summer, and former assistant Tito Vilanova has taken over as Barca's manager.

Under Vilanova, Barcelona will continue to play their trademark tiki-taka style, but Mourinho's experience and resume (multiple league titles in multiple countries and one Champions League crown with Inter Milan) might give Real an edge this season.

Final Thoughts

Real and Barca have dominated Spanish football in recent seasons, and while their hegemony might seem boring to some, it makes for compelling entertainment when the two heavyweights meet.

Last season, Real won the league, while Barca took the Spanish cup. Neither won the prize they really wanted, but both will again rank among the favorites for Champions League glory this season.

The Spanish Super Cup is not the most prestigious trophy these teams will compete for this season, but as last season's Super Cup showed, these encounters could feature a healthy dose of competitive fire.

Follow @MikeCummings37