Real Madrid, led by Carlo Ancelotti, is preparing to face Barcelona in the Spanish Super Cup final on Sunday in Saudi Arabia, in a match that carries special significance following the wound left by the last confrontation at the Santiago Bernabéu. The team seeks to close this chapter in a distinctive way during this important encounter.
The Italian coach plans to make some adjustments to his lineup in preparation for this clash and is particularly focusing on Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal, who has become a major threat to the white team. There is no doubt that Yamal will be key to the match, as Real Madrid will need to deal with him intelligently throughout the ninety minutes.
Lamine Yamal is considered one of the most prominent young talents in the Spanish national team, and he has shown qualities that pose a threat to any defense, particularly with his direct style of play in front of goal. However, his threat is not limited to his offensive capabilities; it also extends to the style of play that Hansi Flick implemented at Barcelona several months ago. In the previous match at the Santiago Bernabéu, attempts to stop him were ineffective, which contributed to the team being undone by unexpected goals.
According to information from the Spanish newspaper “Defensa Central”, Yamal is likely to play on the right side in Sunday’s match, which forces Ancelotti to make a decisive decision on how to stop him.
Defensive options are limited in this case, but the Italian coach is confident that one of his players is capable of handling this major task. Although several players are qualified for this role, Ancelotti prefers to rely on the most experienced one for this particular challenge.
Ancelotti said, “You can deal with him, you will erase him,” expressing his confidence in Ferland Mendy, who will be responsible for stopping Yamal. The coach is fully aware that Mendy needs support and encouragement, especially after a less-than-ideal start to the season, having suffered from some physical issues. However, Ancelotti believes in Mendy’s ability to carry out this task effectively, and he reaffirmed his trust in him after the training session in Jeddah.
Despite the good performances shown by Fran Garcia in recent months, Mendy remains the best option to stop Lamine Yamal in this type of match. A solid performance by Mendy in the Spanish Super Cup final would be the perfect opportunity for him to confirm his place and regain the confidence he has needed, after a season filled with physical difficulties. If he can deliver a strong performance against Barcelona, it would be the best way for him to overcome the negative feelings that accompanied him at the start of the season.