Real Madrid showcased their prowess on the pitch as they defeated Mallorca 2-0 in the semifinals of the Supercopa de España, securing a matchup against their eternal rivals, Barcelona. The victory comes on the heels of a much-needed performance, particularly after their heavy Clasico defeat in LaLiga last October.
The match saw Jude Bellingham emerging as a standout player once again, scoring a crucial goal in the second half to break the deadlock. This marked his eighth goal in his last ten appearances for Madrid across all competitions. Bellingham's strike came in the 63rd minute when he capitalized on a rebound, carefully slotting the ball past defenders stationed on the goal line.
Mallorca struggled to regain control after conceding, and their difficulties were compounded when defender Martin Valjent inadvertently slid the ball into his own net while attempting to intercept a pass. Rodrygo later wrapped up the victory with a late goal, solidifying Madrid's place in the final.
However, Real Madrid faced some setbacks during the match. Luka Modric, who recently became the club's oldest goalscorer with a goal against Valencia, was unable to participate due to illness. Furthermore, Aurelien Tchouameni was withdrawn after sustaining a head injury in a challenge with Cyle Larin, leaving the team to await updates on their availability for Sunday’s final.
Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti praised his team's attacking performance in the second half. He noted, “When those up front activate, anything can happen,” highlighting the importance of his forward players. Tchouameni also commended Bellingham's contributions, stating, “Jude is a phenomenal player. He helps us win games all the time, with goals, assists or just his work.”
Despite Kylian Mbappe appealing for a penalty following a challenge by Dani Rodriguez, Madrid maintained their control throughout the game. Ancelotti expressed confidence in the team's quality, affirming, “The four [forwards] are very dangerous. That’s quite evident. Everyone can see it, the quality they have.”
