In a highly anticipated clash, Real Madrid will face FC Mallorca on Thursday at the King Abdullah Sports City, with both teams battling for a coveted place in the Spanish Super Cup final.
Los Blancos head into this semi-final encounter as reigning La Liga champions, while FC Mallorca secured their place as runners-up in the last Copa del Rey.
Having recently won the FIFA Intercontinental Cup, Real Madrid arrive with impressive momentum, following a crushing 3-0 victory over Pachuca in December. Their last outing saw them secure a thrilling 4-2 win over Sevilla, followed by a tense 2-1 win over Valencia last Friday. Despite a red card for Vinicius Junior, it was Luka Modric’s crucial equalizer and Jude Bellingham’s dramatic late goal that saw Madrid maintain their place at the top of La Liga, with a five-point cushion ahead of FC Barcelona, currently third.
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Carlo Ancelotti’s side continued their good form with a resounding 5-0 victory over Deportivo Minera in the Copa del Rey, progressing to the last 16 and extending their remarkable unbeaten run to seven matches in all competitions. As they aim to defend their Super Cup title, which they memorably clinched in 2023 after a resounding 4-1 victory over Barcelona, the confidence is palpable within the squad.
On the other hand, FC Mallorca are participating in the Super Cup for the first time in their history, presenting a formidable challenge. After an impressive run in the Copa del Rey last season, they narrowly fell short against Athletic Bilbao in the final and currently sit in sixth place in La Liga under Jagoba Arrasate. However, their recent form has been less than dazzling, marked by three defeats in their last five matches, including a dispiriting 3-0 loss to fourth division side Pontevedra in the Copa del Rey.
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However, there is hope for Mallorca as they managed to secure a 1-1 draw against Real Madrid in their opening match of the season; they will strive to achieve a monumental upheaval. A repeat of this opening result would leave the match in extra time, reigniting dreams of their first victory over Madrid since February 2023.
Real Madrid will be without key defensive players Dani Carvajal and Eder Militao for the rest of the season due to cruciate ligament injuries, while David Alaba is on the road to recovery but will not feature in the Super Cup . On the other hand, Vinicius is available for selection despite his La Liga suspension, and Kylian Mbappé, with an impressive total of 13 goals this season, is preparing to make his Super Cup debut.
For FC Mallorca, midfielder Samu Costa is included in the squad despite missing the last three matches due to a muscular problem, although his physical condition remains uncertain. Defenders Antonio Rallo and Antonio Sanchez will also have to pass fitness tests after missing training sessions.
Arrasate is expected to overhaul his starting XI after the defeat to Pontevedra, with several influential players, including Dominik Greif, Pablo Maffeo, Sergi Darder, Cyle Larin and Vedat Muriqi, all competing for starting positions.
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