Real Madrid defeat Mallorca to set up Super Cup Clasico with Barcelona

Real Madrid secured an emphatic 3-0 victory over Mallorca on Thursday night at the King Abdullah Sports City Stadium in Jeddah, advancing to the final of the Spanish Super Cup, where they will face arch-rivals FC Barcelona on Sunday.

The win showcased Madrid’s dominance, though Mallorca held firm in the first half. Playing a defensive game, Mallorca often had all 11 players behind the ball, frustrating Real Madrid’s attacking efforts. Coach Jagoba Arrasate’s strategy appeared to be paying off, as the teams went into halftime level at 0-0.

Real Madrid, however, controlled most of the first half, creating the better chances. Goalkeeper Dominik Greif stood out for Mallorca, making crucial saves to deny Rodrygo, Tchouaméni, and Jude Bellingham. Bellingham’s low strike from outside the box in the 15th minute was Madrid’s best chance of the half.

Mallorca’s counterattacking duo of Cyle Larin and Vedat Muriqi provided moments of concern for Madrid’s defence but failed to convert their opportunities. A key blow for Mallorca came in the 30th minute when captain Antonio Raíllo was forced off due to injury, with Copete stepping in to replace him.

The breakthrough came in the 63rd minute when Kylian Mbappé’s pass found Vinícius Jr., who set up Rodrygo. Though his shot struck the post, the rebound fell to Mbappé, who was again denied by Greif. On the third attempt, Bellingham capitalised, slotting the ball into the net despite Greif’s best efforts.

Mallorca struggled to recover after conceding, and their attacking threat diminished significantly in the second half. The heated battle between Pablo Maffeo and Vinícius Jr. continued, with neither player backing down.

Real Madrid doubled their lead in stoppage time when Martin Valjent inadvertently deflected Brahim Díaz’s pass into his own net. Three minutes later, Rodrygo sealed the victory with a composed finish from Lucas Vázquez’s cross.

El Clásico awaits

The result sets up a highly anticipated Super Cup final between Real Madrid and Barcelona. Madrid are the defending champions, having defeated Barcelona in the 2024 edition held in Riyadh.

Barcelona remains the most successful team in the competition’s history with 14 titles, followed closely by Real Madrid with 13. The clash promises to be a thrilling encounter as the two Spanish giants vie for supremacy.

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