Real Madrid will be looking to book a place in the final of the Spanish Super Cup when they face RCD Mallorca at King Abdullah Sports City.
Real Madrid have already clinched the FIFA Intercontinental Cup in the 2024/25 season and now they will be aiming for the Spanish Super Cup, but before they can set their sights on the trophy, Los Blancos will have to go past RCD Mallorca to make it to the final.
The team in white are competing in the Spanish Super Cup as the reigning La Liga champions, while RCD Mallorca have made it to the semi-finals because of their runners-up finish in the Copa del Rey last season.
It might not have been the best of starts, but Real Madrid are slowly getting in the grove. The Merengues are on top of La Liga, and they are heading into this fixture on the back of four straight wins across competitions.
Despite heavy rotation in the team, Los Blancos secured a 5-0 win over Deportiva Minera in the Copa del Rey last time out. They will surely be favourites heading into this fixture. On the other hand, Mallorca have enjoyed a decent first half of the season. They are currently sixth on the points table and have won their last two league outings.
But, they ended up suffering a shocking 3-0 defeat at the hands of fourth-tier outfit, Pontevedra CF. Going up against Real Madrid will be a massive challenge and they will have to put in a solid performance to get the desired result. The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at both teams and tries to predict the tactics they could put to use.
Team News & Tactics
Real Madrid
Carlo Ancelotti’s team have a massive boost ahead of this fixture as David Alaba is back in the mix after over a year out with injury. While he is in the squad, he might not be risked just yet.
Dani Carvajal and Eder Militao remain on the sidelines, while Jesus Vallejo is not a part of the travelling parting, having missed the Copa del Rey fixture with some discomfort. Vinicius Junior, who is suspended for the next two league fixtures, will be available for the Super Cup.
Real Madrid will line up in a 4-2-3-1 formation against RCD Mallorca, with Thibaut Courtois back in goal. Lucas Vazquez and Fran Garcia should be the full-backs, while Aurelien Tchouameni will partner with Antonio Rudiger in the heart of the defence.
As for the midfield unit, Federico Valverde and Eduardo Camavinga should form the double pivot. They will look to control the tempo and ensure their team has the majority of the ball. Jude Bellingham will be the attacking midfielder, while Rodrygo Goes and Vinicius Junior will be on the flanks. Kylian Mbappe will lead the line for Real Madrid against Mallorca.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Courtois; Vazquez, Tchouameni, Rudiger, Fran Garcia; Camavinga, Valverde; Rodrygo, Bellingham, Vinicius; Mbappe
RCD Mallorca
Samu Costa is a part of the squad despite having missed their last three outings. He will be assessed ahead of the game, while Antonio Raillo and Antonio Sanchez also have a race against time to be fit for this semi-final clash.
Jagoba Arrasate will recall all his regular starters post that shocking defeat in the Copa del Rey. His team will line up in a 4-4-2 formation, with Dominik Greif in goal. In defence, Pablo Maffeo will feature on the right flank, while Johan Mojica will be on the left. In the heart of the defence, Martin Valjent will start alongside José Manuel Copete.
The back four will look to keep things tight while they will receive significant support from the four in front of them. Takuma Asano and Sergi Darder will feature out wide on the flanks. They will look to contribute on both ends of the pitch.
Omar Mascarell will start alongside Manu Morlanes in the centre of the park. They try and ensure that Real Madrid midfielders do not end up dictating the pace of the game. Cyle Larin will partner with Vedat Muriqi in the final third of the pitch.
Probable Lineup (4-4-2): Greif; Mafeo, Valjent, Copete, Mojica; Asano, Morlanes, Mascarell, Darder; Larin, Muriqi
Key Stats
- Real Madrid have won 25 out of their last 43 matches against Mallorca who only have 12 wins in those fixtures.
- Los Blancos have won each of their last four games heading into this fixture.
- Mallorca have failed to win any of their last three matches against the team in white in all competitions.
- Carlo Ancelotti’s team are pushing for their second title of the 2024/25 season having recently won the FIFA Intercontinental Cup.
- Jagoba Arrasate’s team have lost three out of their last five games and have only kept a clean sheet once.
Player to Watch
Vinicius Junior
The Brazilian international will be eager to prove a point, having received a red card in his last league outing. While he is suspended for the next two league fixtures, he is available for the Super Cup and given the kind of track record he has for Real Madrid in important knockout fixtures, Vinicius will be the one to watch out for. He already has 13 goals and nine assists to his name and it won’t be a surprise if he adds to it.
Prediction
Real Madrid 3-0 RCD Mallorca
RCD Mallorca have enjoyed a decent first half, but they are heading into this fixture on the back of a poor run where they have lost three out of their last five outings. They are going up against a team that has won each of their last four games across competitions and have one of the most powerful squads in the world.
The team in white are out-and-out favourites for this fixture, and they should get the job done without much difficulty. The Hard Tackle predicts an easy 3-0 win for Los Blancos.