After getting revenge for their heavy 5–2 defeat earlier this season, Real Madrid secured a narrow 2–1 victory over Atlético Madrid to advance to the Spanish Supercup final. The win sets up a highly anticipated clash with Barcelona, marking the fifth consecutive year the two rivals will meet in the competition’s final.
Barcelona will be eager to respond after losing 2–1 to Madrid in the first El Clásico of the season back in October. Under new management, Barça have regained momentum after a brief dip in form and arrive in the final with renewed confidence.
That confidence was on full display in the semi-final, where Barcelona produced a dominant performance, dismantling Athletic Club 5–0. Madrid, by contrast, had to work much harder in their semi-final, showing resilience rather than control against Atlético despite having moments of attacking quality.
Mbappé Travels With the Squad Despite Fitness Concerns
Real Madrid have made a bold decision by including Kylian Mbappé in the squad for the final, despite the forward not being fully fit. Mbappé completed a final training session in Madrid before traveling to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, where he is expected to train with the rest of the squad ahead of Sunday’s final.
A decision on whether he will start or begin the match on the bench will be taken after the final training session, with the coaching staff carefully weighing the risks involved.
A High-Risk, High-Reward Decision
The French forward was initially expected to miss several weeks due to a knee injury. However, with a trophy at stake and the importance of another El Clásico final, the club has opted to bring him into contention.
Starting Mbappé would undoubtedly be a gamble, but his influence on the pitch is undeniable. Even when not at full fitness, his pace, movement, and ability to change a game in an instant make him a unique threat. He played a decisive role in Madrid’s earlier victory over Barcelona this season and could once again be the difference-maker if called upon.
As Real Madrid chase what could be the first of several trophies this season, attention now turns to the final training session — the moment that will determine whether Mbappé starts the match or is introduced later from the bench.
Sunday’s Spanish Supercup final will provide the answer.