Real And Barcelona Set For Spanish Super Cup Final Clash

By: Gyang Dakwo

For the third year in a row the Spanish Super Cup Final will be contested by FC Barcelona and Real Madrid on Sunday 12 January.

After the Catalans beat Athletic 2-0 on Wednesday and the all-whites beat Mallorca by the same score on Thursday, we are now all set for a showdown between the famous rivals for the first major silverware of the season. The first Clasico of 2025.

The venue will once again be the spectacular King Abdullah Sports City in Jeddah.

Barca are looking to win their first trophy under Hansi Flick, and their record fifteenth Spanish Super Cup, but Real Madrid could match it with a win on Sunday. Something Barca will try hard to make sure is not the case.

Madrid faced a tough battle to get by Mallorca, with the deadlock unbroken until the 63rd minute when a rapid series of attempts were kept out but Jude Bellingham finally got the ball across the line.

But the game was not put to bed once and for all until second half injury time, when Martin Valjent deflected the ball into his own net and then Rodrygo finished things off with practically the last kick of the game.

As it is, Barca now have the chance to avenge a heavy defeat to Madrid in last year’s final, something they are clearly more than capable of doing after putting four goals past Real in a La Liga match at the Bernabeu earlier this season.

Carlo Ancelotti’s side are also are in fine form and are looking for revenge following their 4-0 defeat to Barca in October.

Eder Militao and Dani Carvajal are both injured for Madrid, though David Alaba is back in the squad. Vinicius Junior is available despite an imminent two-match suspension in LaLiga. Aurelien Tchouameni came off against Mallorca and will need to be assessed.

Barca will be without Marc Bernal, Marc-Andre Ter Stegen, Hector Fort and Andreas Christensen. Dani Olmo and Pau Victor are both available to play after being handed temporary registration.

With Madrid in fine form right now, it’s difficult to look past them even despite the result earlier this season (October clash).