Al Khaldiya, Muharraq Chase Super Cup Crown

TDT | Manama

Email : hussainm@newsofbahrain.com

Al Khaldiya and Al Muharraq will face off in the 2025–26 Bahrain Super Cup at Khalifa Sports City tomorrow evening, with kick-off at 9:30pm. The fixture pits last season’s King’s Cup winners, Al Khaldiya, against reigning Nasser Bin Hamad Premier League champions Muharraq, making it one of Bahrain’s most eagerly anticipated matches of the season.

Al Khaldiya enter on the back of a 4–1 league win over Bahrain Club, which lifted them to the top of the table. Having also beaten Muharraq in January, the league leaders head into the Super Cup with added confidence. Tunisian coach Lassad Al Chabbi has also guided the team to this year’s King’s Cup semi-finals, adding momentum ahead of the final.

Muharraq, coached by Portuguese Fernando Manuel de Jesus Santos, have dominated the league this season, despite being two points behind the summit. They lead in goals scored, have conceded the fewest, suffered the fewest losses, and boast league top scorer Edimar Ribeiro da Costa with 12 goals. The Red Wolves also reached the King’s Cup semi-finals and will be eager to respond after losing last month’s Khalid bin Hamad Cup final to Riffa on penalties.

While both sides enter with strong form, cup finals often defy the league table, and in one-off matches like the Super Cup, momentum and composure can be more important than season-long statistics.

Sources indicate that both teams may include under-21 players in the lineups. With a congested schedule and the demands of the Ramadan period, coaches are balancing squad rotation with the need to field competitive sides. This would give young talent a chance in a major final while resting key senior players.

The Super Cup carries extra significance for both teams. Al Khaldiya are chasing a fourth consecutive title, while Muharraq aim to return to the winner’s circle for the first time since 2018.