Real Madrid put on a dominant display as they secured a convincing 3-0 victory over Mallorca in the Spanish Super Cup semi-final on Thursday night. The match, held at the King Abdullah Sports City Stadium in Jeddah, saw Madrid book their spot in the final, where they will face off against arch-rivals FC Barcelona on Sunday.
The first half saw Mallorca adopt a defensive approach, with all 11 players often behind the ball to frustrate Madrid’s attacking efforts. Despite Mallorca’s resilience, Madrid controlled the game and created several scoring opportunities. Goalkeeper Dominik Greif was in fine form for Mallorca, making crucial saves to deny the likes of Rodrygo, Tchouaméni, and Jude Bellingham. Bellingham’s strike from outside the box was Madrid’s best chance in the first half.
Mallorca’s counterattacking duo of Cyle Larin and Vedat Muriqi posed a threat to Madrid’s defense, but they were unable to capitalize on their chances. The injury-forced substitution of Mallorca captain Antonio Raíllo in the 30th minute added to Mallorca’s woes, with Copete coming on as his replacement.
The breakthrough for Madrid came in the 63rd minute when Kylian Mbappé’s pass found Vinícius Jr., who set up Rodrygo for a shot that hit the post. Bellingham was on hand to convert the rebound, giving Madrid the lead. Mallorca struggled to respond after conceding, and Madrid capitalized on their weakened defense.
In stoppage time, Martin Valjent’s own goal extended Madrid’s lead, before Rodrygo sealed the victory with a well-taken goal from Lucas Vázquez’s cross. The win sets up a mouthwatering final clash between Real Madrid and Barcelona, with both teams vying for Super Cup glory.
Barcelona, the most successful team in the competition’s history with 14 titles, will be looking to dethrone defending champions Real Madrid. The final promises to be a thrilling encounter as the two Spanish giants renew their fierce rivalry on the grand stage. Stay tuned for what is sure to be a captivating El Clásico showdown.
