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As often proves to be the case, the Supercopa de Espana final will be contested between Classico Rivals Real Madrid and Barcelona.
The bitter rivals have contested the last two finals – winning each – and Madrid will look to draw level with Barcelona on 14 wins in the competition with victory on Sunday. Los Blancos are the reigning champions but suffered 4-0 loss For the Catalan giants in October that will likely plague their minds.
Madrid conquered Mallorca and Barcelona Athletic Club were dispatched to reach the final in Saudi Arabia, but both will be expected to battle hard in the showpiece event as silverware and bragging rights are claimed.
Here are four key duels that could prove decisive The Classic.
For Ferland Mendy, the 2024/25 campaign was a difficult one. The Frenchman has been sub-par for most of the term and even lost his starting left-back berth towards the end of last year. However, after being restored to the XI for two of Madrid’s three outings in the new year, he will be expected to start again on Sunday.
Mendy performed admirably in the semi-final win over Mallorca, keeping a clean sheet and completing more passes than any of his teammates. It was a confidence-boosting performance, but his ego could be bruised and battered by the end of the Supercopa final.
He will lock horns with the insatiable Lamin Yamal on Sunday evening, the 17-year-old returning from injury during the last four wins against Athletic Club. He scored on his hour-long comeback and looked as sharp as ever after a much-needed rest.
Mendy had a shocking performance in his most recent fight with Yamal, conceding four losses and being consistently overwhelmed in October. Keeping the relentless winger under control is an almighty challenge and one that Mendy must accomplish if Madrid are going to lift the trophy in the Middle East.
There were just two minutes between Robert Lewandowski’s strikes in October’s defeat to Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu. The Poland international proved too much for the Spanish champions to handle, with his movement and physicality wreaking havoc for Antonio Rudiger and Eder Militao.
With Militao sidelined for the rest of the campaign and David Alaba yet to return from a long-term layoff, defensive midfielder Aurelien Choumeni – fine to provide after a knock on the head – will be tasked with pressing Lewandowski on Sunday. The France international has featured regularly in the center this term but it is certainly not his preferred role.
Considering the damage caused by Lewandowski in the league meeting, Carlo Ancelotti will need to provide extra motivation and guidance to Chowmani on Sunday, who will likely be targeted by the experienced Barcelona forward.
Judd Bellingham endured an unseasonably sticky spell during the first few months of the current campaign but has since bounced back. Seven goals in nine matches since the start of December tells the story of a formidable force rediscovering its mojo at a crucial stage of the season.
The Englishman has already announced himself The ClassicDeciding both La Liga meetings with stoppage-time goals during his debut season and La Blaugrana’s lack of defensive midfield presence was evident.
However, this installment of Europe’s scariest derby could be different. Mark Casado will be burdened with the responsibility of denying Bellingham joy, which he did effectively in a 4-0 win earlier this term. Crushing into tackles and moving up the ground, he impressively limited space for Madrid’s midfield threats.
Whether Casado can do the same against a re-energized Bellingham remains to be seen, but it will be an interesting duel between the two young dynamos in the engine room.
Kylian Mbappe’s debut Classico There was one he had likely left in the back of his mind. Permanently offside and outsmarted by Barcelona’s backline, Madrid’s No.9 endured a rotten evening from which he struggled to recover. Until recently, at least.
Mbappe began to find his stride in the final weeks of 2024, scoring five times in December to silence those who had already written off the former Paris Saint-Germain superstar. That form has yet to carry over into the new year – he has been blanked in Madrid’s three matches this term – but there are glimmers of hope for Mbappe as he looks for revenge on Sunday.
17-year-old Pau Cubbarsi, who put in a brilliant performance, frustrated Mbappe Classico In Sagittarius, Jeddah it may be on the receiving end of vitality. The teenager rarely looks dazed on the grandest of stages and is now getting more and more familiar with what is expected in such massive fixtures.
Keeping Mbappe quiet will be no easy feat and Cuba will be hoping for another off day for the World Cup winner. He will need plenty of support from centre-back partner Inigo Martínez, who has proved the perfect foil for the Cubans for most of the season.
