Carlo Ancelotti’s Real Madrid are all set to square up against city rivals Atletico Madrid in the semi-final of the Spanish Super Cup.
Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid are all set to face each other in search of a place in the final of the Spanish Super Cup. Los Blancos have been on a dominant run since the start of the 2023/24 season, and they will be eager to book a spot in the final. Meanwhile, Diego Simeone’s team have not been at their best so far and a win here could be a huge boost for them.
Real Madrid are still in the race for all four titles but for now, they will be focused on the Spanish Super Cup, a competition they have won twice since the four-team format was introduced in the 2019-20 season. Los Blancos’ only defeat of the ongoing season came at the hands of Atletico Madrid.
The team in white lost 3-1 to their city rivals in the league. But post that, Ancelotti’s team have been on a 19-match unbeaten run. They have won 16 and drawn thrice. They are heading into this fixture on the back of five consecutive wins and will be quite confident of getting a positive result out of it.
Atletico Madrid might have won the previous meeting between the two teams, but their overall form has been a cause of concern. They have not been at their best but a win against city rivals in the semi-final of the Spanish Super Cup could turn things around for them.
In the last five competitive matches, Simeone’s team have won two, drawn one and lost two fixtures. They started 2024 with a defeat at the hands of Girona but did manage to bounce back with a win over Lugo in the Copa del Rey. Having beaten Real Madrid last time, they will be confident about their chances. But they have not won consecutive meetings since 2014.
This fixture between city rivals promises to be an edge-of-the-seat thriller, and The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at both teams to try and predict the tactics they could put to use.
Team News & Tactics
Real Madrid
Lucas Vazquez is the latest Real Madrid player to pick up an injury, and he has joined Thibaut Courtois, Eder Militao and David Alaba on the sidelines. Meanwhile, Ferland Mendy and Toni Kroos are back fit and available.
Carlo Ancelotti is expected to call back the majority of his regular starters for this fixture. He will stick to the 4-4-2 formation with a diamond in the centre of the park. Andriy Lunin will be in the goal.
Dani Carvajal and Ferland Mendy will be the full-backs. Meanwhile, Antonio Rudiger will pair up with Nacho in the heart of the defence. The back four will look to keep things tight at the back and try to keep a clean sheet against the visitors.
Toni Kroos will be the holding midfielder, and he will have the support of Federico Valverde and Luka Modric. The trio will look to control the ball possession and dictate the pace of this game. Meanwhile, Jude Bellingham will start in behind the front two as the attacking midfielder. He will look to create chances as well as continue his dominant scoring streak. Up top, Vinicius Junior will pair up with Rodrygo Goes.
Probable Lineup (4-4-2): Lunin; Carvajal, Rudiger, Nacho, Mendy; Valverde, Kroos, Modric; Bellingham; Rodrygo, Vinicius
Atletico Madrid
Thomas Lemar is out injured for Diego Simeone’s team, while Reinildo Mandava has left for the Africa Cup of Nations. Pablo Barrios is travelling with the squad, but his availability is still uncertain.
Diego Simeone is expected to make numerous changes to the XI that started in their Copa del Rey fixture. He will stick to the 3-5-2 formation and call back all his regular starters. Jan Oblak will be in goal.
Axel Witsel, Jose Maria Gimenez, and Mario Hermoso will form the back three. The trio will look to keep a clean sheet against a star-studded Real Madrid attack, and they will have the support of Nahuel Molina and Samuel Lino who will feature as the wing-backs.
The duo will look to join the attack but their priority will be to keep things tight at the back. Meanwhile, in the centre of the park, Marcos Llorente will start alongside Koke and Rodrigo De Paul. They will look to ensure the team in white do not end up dominating the proceedings.
As for the attack, Alvaro Morata will pair up with Antoine Griezmann. The duo have been in exceptional form this season and they will look to continue in similar fashion.
Probable Lineup (3-5-2): Oblak; Gimenez, Witsel, Hermoso; Molina, Llorente, Koke, De Paul, Lino; Griezmann, Morata
Key Stats
- Real Madrid have been unbeaten in their last 19 matches. They have won 16 and drawn the remaining three.
- Los Blancos have won each of their last five matches.
- Atletico Madrid have won two, lost two and drawn one out of their last five matches.
- Carlo Ancelotti’s team have only suffered one defeat this season and it was against Atletico Madrid back in September.
- Real Madrid have won the Super Cup 12 times while the away team have only won it twice.
Player to Watch
Rodrygo Goes
Rodrygo did not have the best of stars in the new season, but he has managed to turn things around. He has been on fire over the past few months and Carlo Ancelotti will hope the Brazilian winger brings his A game to the table against city rivals. In his 26 appearances this season, the 23-year-old has scored 11 goals and also has six assists to his name and they will hope he can add to it.
Prediction
Real Madrid 3-1 Atletico Madrid
Atletico Madrid might have defeated Real Madrid last time out in the league but they haven’t been consistent enough throughout the season and will find it difficult to once again get past Carlo Ancelotti’s team.
Since losing to Diego Simeone’s side, Los Blancos have been on an unbeaten run of 19 matches, and they will look to build on it. They have won each of their last five matches and will look to avenge the loss that they suffered back in September. The Hard Tackle predicts a hard-fought 3-1 win for the team in white.
