Real Madrid will once more attempt to win the Spanish Super Cup at FC Barcelona’s expense.
Real Madrid via Getty Images
Like his rival Hansi Flick, Real Madrid head coach Carlo Ancelotti will field the same line up that won the Spanish Super Cup semifinal when facing eternal rival FC Barcelona in the Saudi-held competition’s decider on Sunday.
There were fears Ancelotti wouldn’t be able to call on at least three big stars for the latest installment of El Clasico – who were namely Jude Bellingham, Fede Valverde and Luka Modric.
Yet as the Italian confirmed at his prematch press conference on Saturday, there were no casualties from the 3-0 win against Mallorca last time out while Luka Modric will have recovered from a virus.
Going for his third trophy already this season, Ancelotti said that the team enters the task in hand with “great enthusiasm” and a “lot of desire”.
“The problems of the match against Mallorca have been resolved. We arrive with a lot of enthusiasm and confidence, as always in the finals,” Ancelotti stated.
It is difficult to argue which team has the most momentum considering Barca won the last meeting between the two behemoths 4-0 but has since blown a six-point lead at the La Liga summit to now trail Madrid by five.
“It’s a final. We’re very close to another title and we’re thinking positively. I am aware that in football anything can happen, especially when the opponent competes as it has competed. A defeat would not be good, but the team moves on,” Ancelotti insisted.
Ancelotti said that Madrid “made a fairly clear assessment” following the mentioned defeat in the Bernabeu back in October.
“We started well and went down in the second half. We must avoid the mistakes we made. A Clasico is always a Clasico, even more so if it is a final. Playing against Barcelona is always something special,” he stressed.
As mentioned then, Madrid will field the same team that won against Mallorca, which first of all consists of Thibaut Courtois as the goalkeeper.
Ferland Mendy is the left back, while Antonio Rudiger and Aurelien Tchouameni form a central defensive partnership with Lucas Vazquez to the right of them.
In midfield, it is once more a double pivot of Eduardo Camavinga and Valverde, while Bellingham is more advanced.
On the front line, Vinicius will attempt to be the protagonist as he was in the 2024 final from the left wing at the same time Rodrygo is on the other side of central number 9 Kylian Mbappe.
Real Madrid Starting XI Vs FC Barcelona: Courtois; Mendy, Rudiger, Tchouameni, Lucas Vazquez; Camavinga, Valverde, Bellingham; Vinicius, Mbappe, Rodrygo
