How do you stop Jude Bellingham?! Xavi insists Barcelona will 'become crazy' if they obsess over neutralising Real Madrid star in Spanish Super Cup final Clasico

At his pre-match press conference before Barcelona face Real Madrid in the final in Saudi Arabia on Sunday, Xavi warned that solely focusing on containing Bellingham will send his team "crazy".

Xavi said: "We won't focus only on one player, or we'll become crazy. About Bellingham, I'd highlight his impact, his physical capacity and his technique. He's simply making the difference by playing in this attacking midfield role."

"We have proved we have a winning project, but then there's of course Real Madrid who are always hungry for trophies. They always do. I have the feeling Madrid gets even better when they see a strong Barça side that can compete against them. I’m super motivated for this."

Bellingham is the clear dangerman for Real Madrid, having scored 17 goals and assisted five more in 23 appearaces across all competitions since his summer arrival in Spain. Indeed, the Englishman netted both goals as Real won 2-1 in this season's first La Liga Clasico in October and agains threatens to be difference-maker as the clubs compete for the first domestic silverware of the campaign - unless Barcelona can find a way to neutralise, or at least diminish, his influence.

Barcelona have won the Supercopa de Espana a record 14 times since it became an official competition in 1982 and are current reigning champions after beating Real Madrid in last year's final. Madrid themselves are next on the all-time list with 12 victories. But no other club has won this trophy more than three times.

Once they head back to Spain, with or without the trophy, Barcelona's big task is closing the seven-point gap between themselves and leaders Real Madrid (and Girona) in La Liga. The Catalans are due to face Real Betis, Villarreal, Osasuna and Alaves in the league all between January 21 and February 3, but it is an even busier period given a Copa del Rey tie against Unionistas on January 18 and another before the end of the month if they win that.