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Real Madrid face Barcelona this evening in the final of the Spanish Supercup, as the mid-season mini-tournament comes to an end with the showpiece event in Jeddah.
Fans are treated to a mid-season El Clasico as the two great rivals contest yet another domestic cup final, with Madrid having beaten Mallorca 3-0 in the semi-finals while Barca defeated Athletic Bilbao.
Both sides are still in the hunt for the La Liga title, with Madrid five points ahead of the Blaugrana and two points ahead of cross-city rivals Atletico.
But tonight provides another chance to hold on to bragging rights until the two teams meet again in early May, with the match a repeat of last year’s final, which Los Blancos won 4-1.
Follow all the latest from the final in our live blog below:
Real Madrid 1-0 Barcelona, 18 minutes
While we await Mbappe’s return, a chance for Barcelona, Pedri firing against a pair of Real Madrid legs and behind.
The corner is only half cleared, but Marc Casado’s 20-yarder is wild and wayward.
Harry Latham-Coyle12 January 2025 19:19
Real Madrid 1-0 Barcelona, 16 minutes
Off comes Mbappe’s boot – he twisted his ankle in a challenge from Jules Kounde a little while ago and it appears that it needs some strapping.
Harry Latham-Coyle12 January 2025 19:17
Real Madrid 1-0 Barcelona, 15 minutes
Barcelona settle into their passing shape, popping the ball about inside the Real Madrid half. This looks bad for Madrid, though – Kylian Mbappe goes down in the centre circle away from any other players. On comes a medic.
Harry Latham-Coyle12 January 2025 19:16
Real Madrid 1-0 Barcelona, 13 minutes
Barcelona look up for this, though, pressing high and hard up the pitch.
Harry Latham-Coyle12 January 2025 19:14
Real Madrid 1-0 Barcelona, 10 minutes
That’s what this Real Madrid side can do. They had very little of the ball in those first few minutes, but there’s such attacking potency, and you sense this forward line is just beginning to find their groove.
Harry Latham-Coyle12 January 2025 19:12
GOAL! REAL MADRID 1-0 Barcelona (Kylian Mbappe, 5 minutes)
But it’s Real Madrid who lead!
Fine work from Vinicius Jr, winning the ball and sparking the attack. Kylian Mbappe drives into the box and beats Wojciech Szczesny with a sharp finish across the goalkeeper. Lovely!
Harry Latham-Coyle12 January 2025 19:09
Real Madrid 0-0 Barcelona, 4 minutes
A really bright start from Barcelona, testing Thibaut Courtois twice in these opening skirmishes through Lamine Yamal and Raphinha. Good shot stopping from the Belgian, who has struggled a bit with injury again this season.
Harry Latham-Coyle12 January 2025 19:07
KICK OFF!
And we are up and running in Jeddah.
Harry Latham-Coyle12 January 2025 19:00
Real Madrid vs Barcelona
So both sides are unchanged in Jeddah, though Dani Olmo and Pau Victor are both available on the Barcelona bench.
Harry Latham-Coyle12 January 2025 18:50
Atletico Madrid express concern over Dani Olmo decision
Atletico Madrid are concerned that the decision by Spain’s National Sports Council (CSD) to allow Barcelona to provisionally register Dani Olmo and Pau Victor sets a dangerous precedent.
Barcelona signed the two players in the close season but with the club unable to meet LaLiga’s wage cap, they were only allowed to be registered for the first half of the campaign.
After the Spanish football federation (RFEF) and LaLiga rejected a request to register the pair for the second half of the season, Barcelona took their case to the CSD.
The CSD gave its provisional decision on Wednesday, shortly before Barcelona took to the pitch in Saudi Arabia for the Spanish Super Cup semi-final.
After a 2-0 win over Athletic Bilbao, Barcelona now have Olmo and Victor available for tonight’s final.
“Atletico de Madrid wants to show its deep concern about the situation generated in Spanish football after the resolution adopted this Wednesday by the National Sports Council,” the club said in a statement.
“We believe that this decision endangers the current system, calling into question the rules of the game.”
Atletico said the government intervention created a dangerous precedent.
“It opens the door to breaking the rules and making the serious mistakes of the past,” they added. “Without clear and equal rules for all, there is no fair competition possible.”
Harry Latham-Coyle12 January 2025 18:35
