AFCON 2025
Real Madrid delivered a dominant performance to defeat Mallorca 3-0 in the Spanish Super Cup semifinal at the King Abdullah Sports City Stadium in Jeddah.
The game began with both teams adopting a cautious approach, resulting in a scoreless first half. Real Madrid created the better chances, with Vinícius Júnior and Jude Bellingham testing Mallorca’s goalkeeper Dominik Greif, who produced a string of fine saves to keep his side in contention.
Mallorca, despite being the underdogs, showed resilience in defense, frustrating Real Madrid’s attacking trio of Bellingham, Kylian Mbappé, and Rodrygo.
The deadlock was broken in the 63rd minute when Jude Bellingham showcased his poise and precision, slotting the ball into the net after a rebound from a parried shot by Greif.
Mallorca’s hopes of a comeback were dashed in the dying minutes. In the 91st minute, a defensive mix-up led to an own goal by Mallorca’s Martin Valjent, extending Real Madrid’s lead to 2-0.
Barely a minute later, Rodrygo sealed the victory with a clinical finish. The Brazilian forward capitalized on a swift counterattack orchestrated by Luka Modrić, who delivered a perfectly weighted pass to set him up.
Real Madrid will now face FC Barcelona in the Spanish Super Cup final on Sunday, January 12, 2025. Barcelona advanced to the final with a 2-0 victory over Athletic Bilbao in the other semifinal.
The final promises to be a thrilling encounter, with Real Madrid seeking their 13th Spanish Super Cup title and Barcelona looking to extend their record tally of 15 wins.
