Key Takeaways:
- Real Madrid defeated Atletico Madrid 2:1 in the Spanish Super Cup semi-final held in Saudi Arabia
- Federico Valverde and Rodrygo scored for Real, while Alexander Sørloth netted Atletico’s consolation goal
- The final, set for Sunday, will see Real Madrid take on Barcelona in a repeat of last year’s decisive clash
Match Overview and Key Moments
Real Madrid secured a 2:1 victory against city rivals Atletico Madrid in the second semi-final of the Spanish Super Cup, earning a place in Sunday’s final against Barcelona. The match, staged in Saudi Arabia, saw Los Blancos strike early, with Federico Valverde opening the scoring from a direct free kick in just the second minute. Rodrygo doubled the advantage after the interval, before Alexander Sørloth responded for Atletico three minutes later.
Barcelona had emphatically reached the final the previous night, sweeping aside Athletic Bilbao 5:0. This year’s final will therefore mirror last season’s climax, when the Catalans produced a 5:2 triumph over Real Madrid.
🏁 @Atleti 1-2 @RealMadrid
⚽ 2' @fedeevalverde
⚽ 55' @RodrygoGoes
⚽ 58' Sørloth
👉 @Emirates pic.twitter.com/EPYxvrlZea— Real Madrid C.F. (@realmadrid) January 8, 2026
Previous Encounters and Tactical Set-Ups
Atletico Madrid had previously delivered Real Madrid’s heaviest defeat of the season with a 5:2 win in their La Liga encounter at the end of September, but this time around, Xabi Alonso’s side exacted their revenge. That said, the balance of play did not reflect a convincing superiority for the eventual winners: Atletico registered 22 shots to Real’s 8, with clear opportunities spurned at both ends. Notably, the contest in Jeddah saw only one yellow card awarded.
Atletico began with Julián Alvarez and Alexander Sørloth leading the attack. Conor Gallagher was also named in the starting line-up but was replaced at half-time. Xabi Alonso maintained his faith in the same starting eleven that had defeated Betis 5:1, with Gonzalo Garcia, fresh from a hat trick, leading the line, and Antonio Rüdiger confirmed fit in defence.
| Team | Score | Goal Scorers | Total Shots | Yellow Cards |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Real Madrid | 2 | Valverde (2′), Rodrygo (55′) | 8 | 1 |
| Atletico Madrid | 1 | Sørloth (58′) | 22 | 0 |
Detailed Match Analysis
Real Madrid capitalised quickly, taking the lead on their first attack as Fede Valverde surprised Jan Oblak with a clever direct free kick. Atletico reacted well, forcing two attempts in return, and Giuliano Simeone almost broke clear in the 22nd minute. Moments later, Real’s Rodrygo and Vinicius both failed to convert promising chances.
At the other end, Thibaut Courtois played a crucial role, notably saving a Sørloth header from a corner in the 33rd minute, before the Norwegian striker spurned another good chance just minutes later. Courtois also denied Alex Baena in the 40th minute to keep Real ahead at the break.
Diego Simeone shuffled his side at half-time, including changes in player positions. Despite this, Real extended their lead in the 55th minute when Valverde set up Rodrygo, who finished superbly after a fine individual effort. Atletico responded immediately, levelling the tempo of the game with Sørloth’s header in the 58th minute following an assist from Simeone.
Atletico dominated proceedings as they searched for an equaliser. In the 69th minute, Xabi Alonso made a double substitution, removing both central defenders in favour of Tchouaméni and Álvaro Carreras. Real nearly added a third in the 79th minute but Oblak denied Rodrygo.
Late Drama and Notable Incidents
Vinicius Junior was replaced two minutes later and received a yellow card as he exited, following an exchange with Diego Simeone. There had already been heated moments between the two earlier in the match, and reports suggested Atleti’s coach shouted: “Florentino will kick you out, mark my words”.
Tensions remained high into the closing stages, with Atletico creating several dangerous moments. In the 89th minute, a critical intervention from Tchouaméni prevented Griezmann from slotting the ball into an empty net. Julián Alvarez missed a golden opportunity for Atletico in added time, a minute before the final whistle.
With this result, Real Madrid progressed to a much-anticipated final against arch rivals Barcelona, setting up a rematch of last year’s decider.
