For the third time, two clubs from the same country played each other in the UEFA Super Cup, after the all-Italian 1990 and 1993 editions. Barcelona guaranteed a sixth presence in the UEFA Super Cup match, following their victorious campaign in the 2005–06 UEFA Champions League, where they defeated first-time finalists Arsenal by 2–1, at the Stade de France in Paris. Their first three presences—as 1979, 1982 and 1989UEFA Cup Winners' Cup winners—resulted in an equal number of defeats. Having won their first European Cup title in 1992, Barcelona finally claimed the Super Cup trophy in their fourth attempt by beating Werder Bremen 3–2 on aggregate. Five years later, as 1997 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup holders they defeated another German club (Borussia Dortmund) to add a second Super Cup to their cabinet.[6]
Before the 2006 UEFA Super Cup, the two clubs had previously met in European competition only once. It was in the third round of the 1995–96 UEFA Cup edition, and it resulted in a 4–2 aggregate win for Barcelona.[7]
^ ab"Line-ups"(PDF). UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. 25 August 2006. Archived from the original(PDF) on 6 July 2012. Retrieved 24 April 2011.
^ abcde"Full Time Report"(PDF). UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. 25 August 2006. Archived from the original(PDF) on 11 November 2011. Retrieved 24 April 2011.
