New Delhi: Defending champions Real Madrid and Barcelona will clash at King Abdullah Sports City Stadium in Jeddah for the 2025 Supercopa de Espana crown lust reminiscent of last year’s encounter when Madrid overwhelmed Barcelona 4-1. El Clasico is scheduled for tonight at 12:30 am. This match signifies a fast turnaround for Real Madrid, who defeated Mallorca 3-0 in the second semi-final on Thursday evening, just a day after Barcelona triumphed 2-0 against Athletic Bilbao.
Real Madrid faced a challenging semifinal against Mallorca, who made scoring tough in the first half. However, star striker Jude Bellingham delivered a brilliant goal just after the hour mark to put Los Blancos in the lead. Carlo Ancelotti’s team secured their victory by scoring twice in stoppage time, ensuring their advancement to the final.
Madrid have already won the UEFA Super Cup and FIFA Intercontinental Cup this season and will be aiming to add a third trophy on Sunday evening. Ancelotti’s side will bring a five-game winning streak into the match, including three wins this year. Los Blancos have won the trophy on 13 occasions, and if they manage to win it this time, they will join their Clasico rivals, who have won it 14 times.
🏆 MATCHDAY! 🏆#ElClásico pic.twitter.com/1UdMHFwHfY
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) January 12, 2025
On the other hand, Barcelona were irresistible against Madrid in their last encounter, with Robert Lewandowski scoring twice along with Raphinha and Lamine Yamal, and those three will again look to cause damage to Ancelotti’s men.
At one point in time, it was felt that the Catalans would be running away with the La Liga title this season, but they stumbled of late, which saw them slip to third place and their arch-rivals Madrid take the top spot with a five-point lead.
Hansi Flick’s team concluded 2024 with consecutive league losses, yet they have returned to form, winning all three of their recent matches. Barcelona aims to secure the trophy for the 15th time, similar to their success in 2023. However, the fixture congestion has been significant for both teams this season, as they will be competing in the last 16 of the Copa del Rey next week, while the Champions League phase is also about to resume, set to wrap up by the end of the month.
A win for Real Madrid in tomorrow’s Supercopa will see them draw level with Barcelona for total times won! 👀
El Clasico with a trophy on the line, must watch tv! 🏆 pic.twitter.com/8xEE3E5jyA
— 90min (@90min_Football) January 11, 2025
Team news
Real Madrid will welcome Luka Modric back into the squad for their clash with Barcelona after the midfielder missed Thursday’s game due to illness. Aurelien Tchouameni, Federico Valverde, and Jude Bellingham, who had minor concerns following the semi-final, have all been declared fit and will be available for selection.
However, Eder Militao and Dani Carvajal will remain sidelined with long-term injuries. David Alaba is included in the squad but he is not completely ready to play. The Austrian defender is continuing his recovery from a serious knee injury and is expected to return later this month.
Meanwhile, key players like Marc-Andre ter Stegen, Marc Bernal, and Andreas Christensen remain unavailable in Barcelona’s dugout. On a positive note, Dani Olmo and Pau Victor have been temporarily registered and are in contention for the match.
Wojciech Szczesny has started successive matches for the Catalans and is likely to retain his place in goal. Meanwhile, Ronald Araujo is with the squad in Saudi Arabia but is reportedly close to a move to Juventus, making his involvement in the final uncertain.
Lamine Yamal is back in action after recovering from an ankle injury and is expected to start in the attack. Both teams are gearing up to field their strongest available lineups for the Spanish Super Cup final.
Head-to-Head
Real Madrid holds a slight historical edge over Barcelona in El Clasico, having won it 105 times out of 258 matches, while Barca won just 101. Barcelona have secured victories in their last two matches against Madrid across all competitions, most recently in October, when the Blaugrana overwhelmed Madrid with a 4-0 scoreline, featuring a brace from Robert Lewandowski.
The last El Clásico saw Barcelona absolutely thrash Real Madrid in their own back yard 👀😬 pic.twitter.com/0kobWbod0T
— OneFootball (@OneFootball) January 10, 2025
Barca have been in the most prolific form this season under Flick, having scored 51 goals in their 19 league games. Los Blancos are also riding high, as they have registered dominant wins in each of their last eight matches in all competitions.
Predicted lineup
Real Madrid: Courtois; Vazquez, Tchouameni, Rudiger, Mendy; Valverde, Camavinga; Rodrygo, Bellingham, Vinicius; Mbappe
Barcelona: Szczesny; Kounde, Cubarsi, Martinez, Balde; Casado, Pedri; Yamal, Gavi, Raphinha; Lewandowski
When, where, and how to watch the Real Madrid vs Barcelona in India?
The Real Madrid vs Barcelona Spanish Super Cup final will kick off at 12:30 AM (IST). Though the match won’t be broadcast in India, fans can still follow the action through live streaming on the FanCode app and website.
Match prediction
Barca have been in excellent attacking form under Hansi Flick this season, but their tactics might backfire against Real Madrid’s impressive counterattacking. Jude Bellingham, Rodrygo, Vinicius Jr and Kylian Mbappe have all stepped up for Madrid whenever needed and have even helped Madrid attain top spot in the La Liga standings in recent months.
Going into the game, Los Blancos will aim to avenge their home defeat against Barca earlier in the season back in October. The Blaugrana have kicked off the year on a winning streak and will look to extend it.
Final Scoreline: Real Madrid 2-3 Barcelona
All you need to know about the RMA vs BAR Spanish Super Cup final match, which is to be played at the King Abdullah City Stadium in Jeddah. But before the action kicks off, let’s examine which team has the upper hand over the other. Football Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
