Real Madrid opened the scoring early against city rivals Atlético Madrid in their Spanish Super Cup semifinal clash on Thursday evening in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, with Federico Valverde finding the net to give Los Blancos a crucial advantage.
The highly anticipated derby at King Abdullah Sports City Stadium kicked off at 8 PM CET (2 PM ET), with the winner set to face Barcelona in Sunday’s final after the Catalan side’s commanding 5-0 victory over Athletic Club.
Derby Intensity in Jeddah
Real Madrid vs Atlético Madrid has always delivered fierce competition, and Thursday’s semifinal proved no exception. Real Madrid, coached by Xabi Alonso, entered the match seeking their 14th Spanish Super Cup title while riding a four-game winning streak that included 12 goals scored.
Atlético Madrid, managed by Diego Simeone, brought confidence from their stunning 5-2 victory over Real Madrid earlier in the season but faced the challenge of overcoming an 11-point gap behind league leaders Barcelona.
Key Absences Shape Lineups
Real Madrid’s lineup was notably missing star forward Kylian Mbappe, who remains sidelined with a persistent knee injury. The French international’s absence forced Los Blancos to rely heavily on Vinicius Junior and Jude Bellingham for offensive firepower. Defender Eder Militao was also unavailable due to a hamstring issue.
For Atlético, the absence of Clement Lenglet and Nicolas Gonzalez due to knee and hamstring injuries respectively required tactical adjustments from Simeone.
Super Copa de España Format
The tournament follows a final four format, with Real Madrid qualifying as runners-up in both La Liga and Copa del Rey from last season. Atlético earned their spot by finishing third in La Liga.
This marks the fifth meeting between the Madrid rivals in Spanish Super Cup history, with Real Madrid holding a favorable record of two wins, one draw, and one defeat. Their most recent Super Cup encounter in 2023-24 saw Real Madrid triumph 5-3 in extra time.
Stakes Beyond the Trophy
For Atlético Madrid, the Super Copa de España represents a critical opportunity for silverware after their La Liga title hopes have effectively ended. The club is now focusing its efforts on the Super Cup, Copa del Rey, and Champions League campaigns.
Real Madrid aims to continue their impressive momentum and secure a spot in what would be their fifth consecutive Super Cup final appearance.
