Spanish Super Cup holders Real Madrid have returned to the competition’s biggest event in Jeddah after beating Mallorca 3-0 on Thursday night.
The Canaries were predictably stubborn in the semi-final and could easily have gone ahead earlier Jude Bellinghamwho went full Zinedine Zidane opting for a stuck-on shirt aesthetic, opened the scoring after a melee in the Mallorca area.
The domestic comfort of 13 Supercopa wins followed, and they will match Barcelona’s 14 successes in this competition if they retain the crown this weekend.
Here’s how Madrid could line up against their Classic rivals.
GK: Thibaut Courtois – Mallorca’s inefficient work in front of goal meant Courtois he didn’t have to work too hard for his Thursday pocket. The Belgian will be expecting a busier outing here.
RB: Lucas Vázquez – Raul Asencio could establish himself as a deputy right-back in the second half of the season, but Carlo Ancelotti will stick with the veteran Vazquez on Sunday.
CB: Aurelien Tchouameni – The Frenchman has a fresh injury concern heading into the final, but there is hope that Tchouameni will be fit to start. He has looked quiet since dropping into Madrid’s back line.
CB: Antonio Rudiger – David Alaba returned to the matchday squad on Thursday and the Austrian could still have a big role to play this season. However, the stylish left-back will not replace Rudiger on Sunday.
LB: Ferland Mendy – Ancelotti has Fran Garcia as an option if he likes to rotate at left-back, but would prefer the more robust Mendy to face Lamine Yamal.
CM: Edward Camavinga – Camavinga has made great strides this season and is becoming an indispensable figure in Madrid’s midfield.
CM: Federico Valverde – Ancelotti has managed at least Valverde’s minutes in the last outings which should allow him to start again against Barcelona. After playing a half in Madrid’s Copa del Rey win against Minera, the Uruguayan international played 75 minutes on Thursday.
RM: Rodrygo – The Brazilian capped a memorable birthday by scoring Madrid’s third in the semi-final, and should be included in the starting line-up again despite Brahim Diaz and Arda Guler being ruled out.
AM: Jude Bellingham – The goals keep coming for the England star after a slow start to 2024/25, with Ancelotti returning Bellingham to the free-roaming role he thrived in last season. The excellent pivot of the Barça midfielder has a big task on his hands.
LM: Vinicius Junior – Vini Jr can’t seem to stay away from controversy at the moment. After his petulant dismissal against Valencia, the Brazilian got into a fight with Mallorcan Pablo Maffeo on Thursday. The pair have a history dating back to the 2020/21 season after Maffeo was sent off following a nasty tackle on the Madrid superstar.
ST: Kylian Mbappe – Task one for Mbappé sunday: stay home! The French star was caught offside eight times in El Clásico in October, the most in a major European league game since December 2013.
