Real Madrid Super Cup final lineup against FC Barcelona: Full strength

Like his rival Hansi Flick, Real Madrid head coach Carlo Ancelotti will face the same team that won the semi-final of the Spanish Super Cup against eternal rivals FC Barcelona in the decider of the competition in Saudi Arabia on Sunday.

There were fears that Ancelotti would not be able to call on at least three big stars – namely Jude Bellingham, Fede Valverde and Luka Modric – for the final installment of El Clasico.

But as the Italian confirmed at his pre-match press conference on Saturday, there were no injuries in the recent 3-0 win over Mallorca, while Luka Modric is believed to have recovered from a virus.

Ancelotti was aiming for his third trophy of the season and said the team was approaching the task ahead with “great enthusiasm” and “a lot of desire”.

“The problems of the game against Mallorca have been solved. As always, we go into the finals with a lot of enthusiasm and self-confidence,” explained Ancelotti.

It’s hard to argue which team has the most momentum, considering Barca won 4-0 the last time the two giants met, but have since blown a six-point lead at the summit of La Liga and are now five points behind Madrid.

“It’s a final. We are close to another title and are thinking positively. I am aware that anything can happen in football, especially if the opponent starts the way they started. A defeat would not be good, but the team goes on,” Ancelotti insisted.

Ancelotti said Madrid “gave a pretty clear assessment” after the aforementioned defeat at the Bernabeu in October.

“We started well and went down in the second half. We must avoid the mistakes we have made. A Clasico is always a Clasico, even more so when it’s a final. Playing against Barcelona is always special,” he emphasized.

As already mentioned, Madrid will play with the same team that won against Mallorca, initially with Thibaut Courtois as goalkeeper.

Ferland Mendy is the left-back, while Antonio Rüdiger and Aurelien Tchouameni form a central defensive partnership with Lucas Vazquez on the right.

In midfield it is again a double pivot of Eduardo Camavinga and Valverde, while Bellingham operates further forward.

At the front, Vinicius will try to be the protagonist, as he did in the 2024 final on the left wing, while Rodrygo is on the other side of central number 9 Kylian Mbappe.

Starting XI of Real Madrid against FC Barcelona: Courtois; Mendy, Rüdiger, Tchouameni, Lucas Vazquez; Camavinga, Valverde, Bellingham; Vinicius, Mbappe, Rodrygo