Real Madrid is playing for its first trophy of the season, with the Spanish Super Cup on the line in Saudi Arabia. And as Xabi Alonso said in his press conference, since it’s the next title up for grabs, it’s an “absolute priority.”
To fight for the Super Cup in Sunday’s final against Barcelona, Madrid first needs to get past Atlético Madrid in today’s semifinal. And to do that, Xabi is expected to lean on what worked for him in Madrid’s first match of 2026, against Real Betis.
No Mbappé for Madrid once more
In that game, Xabi was without Kylian Mbappé, sidelined by a knee sprain that will keep him out during the opening stretch of the year. In his place, he turned to Gonzalo García, flanked by Vinícius Júnior and Rodrygo Goes in a three‑man attack. The result couldn’t have been better: a 5-1 win featuring a hat trick from the academy graduate and two assists from Rodrygo. Only Vinícius failed to fully convince, but Xabi made it clear he’s keeping his full confidence in him.
In the engine room, things worked so well that it’s highly likely Xabi sticks with the trio that defeated Betis: Aurélien Tchouameni as the anchor, with Jude Bellingham and Eduardo Camavinga either side of him in a midfield three. When defending, though, all three drop into a line of four alongside Rodrygo, leaving Gonzalo and Viíicius up top in a 4‑4‑2 shape.
And in defense, with Trent Alexander-Arnold out and Dani Carvajal’s return still a bit premature (he will be on the bench), Fede Valverde is expected to play at right back again, with Raúl Asencio and Antonio Rüdiger as the center‑back pairing and Álvaro Carreras on the left. Dean Huijsen has just returned from injury as well, so the normal plan would be for him to start on the bench.
Real Madrid’s possible lineup vs Atlético:
Courtois, Valverde, Asencio, Rüdiger, Carreras, Tchouaméni, Camavinga, Bellingham, Rodrygo, Gonzalo, Vinícius
Atlético Madrid vs Real Madrid: times, how to watch in the U.S.
Played at Alinma Stadium in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, today’s Spanish Super Cup semifinal kicks off at 2:00 p.m. ET/11:00 a.m. PT. Viewers in the U.S. will be able to watch the game on ESPN2 and ESPN Deportes. Your streaming options include fubo, which offers new users a free, introductory trial.