Real Madrid secured their place in the Spanish Super Cup final after a hard-fought and thrilling 2–1 victory over city rivals Atlético Madrid in a match marked by fierce competition and high intensity until the final whistle. The win earned Los Blancos a ticket to the final, setting up a highly anticipated clash with arch-rivals Barcelona next Sunday to determine the Super Cup champion.
Barcelona had already booked their spot in the final after a dominant display in the first semi-final, thrashing Athletic Bilbao 5–0 in a match that highlighted the Catalan side’s excellent form ahead of the upcoming Clásico.
Related topics
Despite the joy of qualification, Real Madrid’s performance against Atlético raised several concerns, particularly regarding their defensive line. According to the Spanish newspaper Defensa Central, Xabi Alonso expressed clear dissatisfaction with the performance of his central defensive pairing, Antonio Rüdiger and Raúl Asensio, as the team looked vulnerable when dealing with crosses and nearly paid the price on multiple occasions.
The report added that the Spanish coach did not hesitate to make a bold decision in the second half, substituting both players in a move that sparked controversy but reflected the coaching staff’s growing concern over repeated mistakes and poor defensive positioning. Alonso believes that maintaining this level of performance could prove costly, especially against a team of Barcelona’s caliber, known for exploiting half-chances and aerial situations.
The Real Madrid coach fears these defensive gaps could become a decisive weakness in the upcoming final, potentially costing the team the title despite their strong attacking efforts.
With El Clásico drawing closer, all eyes are now on Xabi Alonso’s expected decisions and whether he will introduce further adjustments to the back line in search of the right balance against Barcelona in a final where there is no margin for error.
