Real Madrid secured their spot in the Spanish Super Cup final after a commanding 2-1 victory over Atletico Madrid in Saudi Arabia on Thursday. The win marks Madrid’s fifth consecutive triumph across all competitions and sets up an exciting El Clasico clash against Barcelona on Sunday at the King Abdullah Sports City stadium.
Valverde’s Brilliance Breaks Deadlock
Fede Valverde’s blistering free-kick opened the scoring just two minutes into the encounter, rocketing past Atletico goalkeeper Jan Oblak with such ferocity that the wall proved ineffective. The strike proved particularly significant for Valverde, who had struggled to find the net this season. “After so many games without scoring, today was a great game to get back to it, to help the team win,” Valverde stated after the match, emphasizing the importance of his first goal of the campaign.
Rodrygo Extends Lead, Sorloth Fights Back
Brazilian winger Rodrygo doubled Madrid’s advantage in the 55th minute with his third goal in five games, exploiting a defensive gap in Atletico’s middle. Alexander Sorloth pulled one back for Atletico just three minutes later with a well-placed header, but the Norwegian striker’s effort proved insufficient to level the contest.
Despite Atletico’s fierce second-half pressure and multiple chances to force extra time, including efforts from Antoine Griezmann and Marcos Llorente, Madrid’s defense held firm. Barcelona’s emphatic 5-0 demolition of Athletic Bilbao on Wednesday confirmed their participation in the final, guaranteeing an exciting Sunday showdown between Spain’s two most successful clubs.