Real Madrid beats Atletico 2-1, faces Barcelona in Spanish Super Cup final
Real Madrid defeated Atletico Madrid 2-1 in a Spanish Super Cup semi-final in Jeddah on Thursday, advancing to face Barcelona in Sunday's final. Fede Valverde's second-minute free-kick and Rodrygo's 55th-minute strike secured the win for Xabi Alonso's side. Alexander Sorloth pulled one back for Atletico with a header, but it wasn't enough.
This victory marks Madrid's fifth consecutive win across all competitions. Coach Alonso, who faced sack rumors after inconsistent form late 2025, has steadied the ship, winning his first Clasico in October. With Kylian Mbappe sidelined by a knee sprain, young striker Gonzalo Garcia kept his place after scoring a hat-trick against Betis last Sunday.
Atletico had beaten Madrid 5-2 in their September La Liga derby, but this was a tighter affair. Thibaut Courtois made crucial saves for Madrid, including stops from Sorloth, Julian Alvarez, and Antoine Griezmann. Atletico will need to regroup after their Saudi Arabia hopes ended quickly. Madrid fans can look forward to Sunday's final at King Abdullah Sports City.