In Wednesday’s match in Saudi Arabia, Real Madrid will play their city rivals Atletico Madrid for a spot in the Spanish Super Cup final.
The Super Cup match is the first of three Madrid derbies that will occur in the upcoming month after the teams were drawn together in the Copa del Rey.
Real Madrid, who have won their past five competitive games—including a 3-1 victory over fourth-tier Arandina on Saturday—will head to Saudi Arabia in high spirits.
Goals from Joselu, Brahim Diaz, and Rodrygo helped a much-changed Real Madrid team maintain their successful Copa del Rey trophy defense in a match in which Arda Guler made his much awaited debut.
Carlo Ancelotti’s club will now focus on the Spanish Super Cup, which they have won twice since the four-team system was implemented in the 2019–20 season, as they continue to chase four titles.
Los Blancos have won the Super Cup twelve times in total, although they were unable to increase that number the previous season as they lost to Barcelona 3-1 in the semi-finals despite defeating Valencia on penalties.
Real Madrid responded forcefully after their 3-1 loss to Atletico in their most recent meeting in September, going on a 19-game unbeaten streak in all competitions that includes 16 wins and 3 ties.
Unlike their city neighbors, Atleti has only won the Super Cup twice: once in 1984 and again in 2014 after defeating Real Madrid, which was coached by Carlo Ancelotti, 2-1 over the course of two legs.
But unlike Los Blancos, Atletico has had trouble staying consistent lately; in their last five competitive games, they have won two, drawn one, and lost two.
One of those two losses occurred in their 2024 season opener against the swift Girona, who defeated Atleti 4–3 in stoppage time, dropping Diego Simeone’s team to sixth place and ten points off the top of the standings.
Their chances of winning the league crown could be in jeopardy, but they still have a chance to win the Copa del Rey trophy after defeating lower-tier Lugo 3-1 in the cup encounter on Saturday, thanks to goals from Memphis Depay and Angel Correa.
They will now focus on making their third Super Cup appearance in the four-team format, which will be their first since 2022, when they lost 2-1 to Athletic Club in the semifinals.
Real Madrid possible starting lineup:
Lunin; Carvajal, Rudiger, Nacho, Mendy; Valverde, Kroos, Modric, Bellingham; Rodrygo, Vinicius
Atletico Madrid possible starting lineup:
Oblak; Molina, Gimenez, Witsel, Hermoso, Lino; Llorente, Koke, De Paul; Griezmann, Morata
We declare: Atletico Madrid 1-2 Real Madrid
Real Madrid is in fantastic form going into this match, having won five straight. We believe that they will maintain this run by narrowly defeating an Atletico side that has recently struggled with consistency. Yes, they lost to their city rivals in September’s Madrid derby.
