Tomorrow, Thursday at 10:00 PM, the eyes of football fans around the world will turn to Saudi Arabia, specifically the city of Jeddah, which will host a highly anticipated clash between giants Real Madrid and their fierce rivals, Atlético Madrid. This highly anticipated match is part of the semi-finals of the Spanish Super Cup, and it transcends the mere 90 minutes of play, representing a renewed historical rivalry between the two Madrid clubs.
A tough test for Xabi Alonso's squad
Real Madrid enters this crucial derby facing a significant challenge: the absence of their star player, Kylian Mbappé, who has been sidelined by a recent muscle injury. This absence puts manager Xabi Alonso under considerable pressure to find alternative attacking solutions and maintain the Merengues' scoring prowess.
Despite the magnitude of Mbappe's absence, Real Madrid possesses an arsenal of stars capable of making a difference, as Alonso relies on the brilliance of Brazilian Vinicius Junior, the magical touches of Englishman Jude Bellingham, and the movements of Rodrygo, to continue the team's dominance in the tournament and enhance its golden record.
Changes in the back lines
Real Madrid's absences aren't limited to the attack; the back line is also suffering from the absence of the solid Brazilian defender Eder Militao. However, the squad includes promising names to fill the gap, such as the Spanish defender Dean Hoesen, in addition to the English right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold, on whom the team relies heavily for attacking support and set pieces.
Simeone and Los Rojiblancos' ambitions
On the other side, Atlético Madrid, led by their veteran coach Diego Simeone, are looking to capitalize on their arch-rivals' circumstances and turn the tables in Jeddah. "El Cholo" aims to prove his team's ability to compete with the big clubs in crucial knockout matches, despite also missing key players like Pablo Barrios and Clément Lenglet, which may necessitate tactical adjustments to ensure defensive balance in midfield.
A long history and an age-old conflict
This match gains its significance from the long history of rivalry between the two teams; the Madrid derby is one of the oldest and fiercest derbies in world football. Historically, the two teams have met in 241 official matches across various competitions, with Real Madrid holding the advantage with 117 victories, compared to 61 wins for Atlético Madrid, while 63 matches ended in a draw.
Saudi Arabia's hosting of this event reaffirms its growing status as a global sporting destination, having consistently hosted the Spanish Super Cup in recent years, thus generating significant public and media interest in the tournament. The dynamics of cup and Super Cup matches differ drastically from those of long league fixtures, offering no second chances, promising a highly competitive and exciting contest that will be fiercely contested until the final whistle.
