Verdict: Real Madrid win
Best odds: 11/8
Bookmaker: Olympusbet
King Abdullah Sports City will host the latest edition of El Clasico on Sunday evening, with Real Madrid and Barcelona battling for the 2025 Spanish Super Cup title.
Real Madrid faces a short recovery period, having defeated Mallorca 3-0 in Thursday’s second semifinal, just a day after Barcelona advanced with a 2-0 victory over Athletic Bilbao.
Real Madrid
Mallorca gave Real Madrid a tough time in the first half of Thursday’s semi-final, but Jude Bellingham broke the deadlock just past the hour mark, and two stoppage-time goals secured Carlo Ancelotti’s side a place in the final.
Real Madrid, having already claimed the UEFA Super Cup and FIFA Intercontinental Cup this season, are chasing their third trophy on Sunday, with the possibility of adding three more in La Liga, the Champions League, and the Copa del Rey.
While Ancelotti’s team didn’t always impress during the first half of the campaign, recent performances suggest they are finding their rhythm, a worrying sign for both domestic and European rivals.
They enter this match on a five-game winning streak, including three victories in 2025, against Valencia and Deportiva Minera in La Liga and the Copa del Rey, followed by the 3-0 triumph over Mallorca.
Real Madrid are the reigning Spanish Super Cup champions, having lifted the trophy 13 times, including last year’s 4-1 win over Barcelona in the final. A victory on Sunday would tie them with their Clasico rivals at 14 trophies.
Los Blancos have won four of the last five encounters between the teams in all competitions, although Barcelona earned a stunning 4-0 victory at the Bernabeu in their La Liga clash last October.
Team News
Luka Modric missed Thursday’s semifinal due to illness, and while it seems unlikely he will recover in time for Sunday, he has not yet been officially ruled out.
Aurelien Tchouameni (head), Federico Valverde (overload), and Jude Bellingham (overload) will need to undergo assessments after sustaining minor issues in the semi-final, though all three are expected to be fit to start the match.
Eder Militao and Dani Carvajal remain long-term absentees, while David Alaba, despite being named in the squad, is not yet ready to play. The defender, sidelined for over a year with a serious knee injury, is expected to make his return later this month.
Barcelona
Barcelona delivered a dominant performance in their 4-0 win over Real Madrid, with Robert Lewandowski (two), Raphinha, and Lamine Yamal finding the net. The trio will aim to trouble Ancelotti’s side again on Sunday night.
Earlier this season, Barcelona looked set to run away with the La Liga title, but a poor run of form—just one win in their last seven league games—has seen them slip to third, five points behind leaders Real Madrid.
Hansi Flick’s side ended 2024 with back-to-back league losses to Leganes and Atletico Madrid but have started 2025 strongly, defeating Barbastro 4-0 in the Copa del Rey and Athletic 2-0 in the Spanish Super Cup semi-finals.
Gavi opened the scoring in the 17th minute of Wednesday’s semi-final, with Yamal doubling the lead early in the second half to secure a comfortable win. Barcelona now aim to lift the Spanish Super Cup for the 15th time.
Having beaten Real Madrid 3-1 in the 2023 final, Barcelona could benefit from the extra 24 hours of rest, especially with Real Madrid dealing with injuries to key players.
Both clubs are in the midst of a hectic schedule, with Copa del Rey last-16 fixtures next week and the Champions League group stage concluding before the month’s end.
Team News
Marc-Andre ter Stegen, Marc Bernal, and Andreas Christensen remain unavailable, but Dani Olmo and Pau Victor are eligible to play after receiving temporary registrations.
Wojciech Szczesny, having started Barcelona’s last two matches, is expected to retain his spot in goal on Sunday, with Inaki Pena serving as backup.
Ronald Araujo is with the squad in Saudi Arabia, but with Juventus reportedly pushing for his transfer, his involvement in the final would come as a surprise.
Lamine Yamal has recovered from a recent ankle issue and is set to start in the attacking line.
Conclusion
As is often the case in clashes between these two teams, predicting the outcome is no easy task, especially given the extraordinary results in their recent meetings. However, with Real Madrid currently in better form and assuming they can recover the players who sustained issues against Mallorca, Los Blancos are tipped to edge this contest and lift the trophy.
Verdict: Real Madrid win
Best odds: 11/8
Bookmaker: Olympusbet
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