Carlo Ancelotti anticipates ‘unpredictable’ Super Cup Clasico

JEDDAH – Football fans should expect the unexpected when Real Madrid face Barcelona in the Spanish Super Cup final on Jan 12, Real coach Carlo Ancelotti said after his team outclassed Mallorca in the semi-finals.

Jude Bellingham and Rodrygo scored second-half goals to help Real to a 3-0 victory in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on Jan 9, after Barcelona beat Athletic Bilbao 2-0 in the other last-four clash.

“The Clasico has been unpredictable lately,” Ancelotti told reporters.

“There were games we won easily, like the 4-1 last year in the Super Cup. We also won 4-0 in Barcelona, while ​​they beat us 4-0 at the Bernabeu.

“It’s hard to think what kind of game the next one will be. It will be entertaining because there is quality on the pitch. And obviously we want to end up being better than Barcelona.”

Real and Barcelona will meet in the competition’s final for the third consecutive time, with Ancelotti’s side prevailing last season, while Barca last lifted the trophy in 2023.

Barcelona hold the record of 14 titles, with Real on 13.

Real will need to get off to a better start as they took time to open the scoring against 2024 Copa del Rey finalists Mallorca, who sit sixth in the La Liga standings, 13 points off leaders Real.

England midfielder Bellingham broke the deadlock only after the hour mark, finishing off an excellent team move featuring Rodrygo and Kylian Mbappe.

“We started very well, but we could have opened the scoring a little earlier, in the first half,” Ancelotti, 65, added.

“After the good start, it then became more difficult for us. It was a demanding game because Mallorca played the game they had to play. They were defending very well, closing spaces and trying to look for opportunities with crosses. A couple of times they created problems for us.”

The game was goal-less at the break after early attempts by Lucas Vazquez and Bellingham forced Mallorca goalkeeper Dominik Greif into saves.

Bellingham then found a way past the Slovak in the 63rd minute.

Real continued pushing to increase their lead but did not find the net again until defender Martin Valjent sent the ball into his own net two minutes into stoppage time, while attempting to block a shot by Real substitute Brahim Diaz.

Rodrygo made it 3-0 three minutes later, converting a stunning cross into the box by Vazquez to celebrate his 24th birthday in style.

Real finished the game without midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni, who was replaced by Raul Asencio early in the second half following a clash of heads with a Mallorca defender.

Bellingham also looked uncomfortable after going down in the final minutes but completed the game, while Federico Valverde was replaced with 15 minutes remaining by Dani Ceballos.

“The doctor preferred to take him (Tchouameni) off the pitch because it was a blow to the head,” Ancelotti said.

“Bellingham and Valverde were overloads. We were not expecting the heat and it affected the rhythm of the game.” REUTERS, AFP