Real Madrid would chase a record-equaling 14th Spanish Super Cup title in the final against Barcelona after second-half goals by Jude Bellingham and Rodrygo helped them to a 3-0 win over Mallorca in the semi-finals on Thursday.
England midfielder Bellingham broke the deadlock after the hour mark with a low shot into the middle of the goal before Mallorca defender Martin Valjent’s own goal doubled the lead in stoppage time followed by a Rodrygo strike from close range.
Spanish champions Real are to play Barcelona for the trophy tomorrow after goals by Gavi and Lamine Yamal earned Barça a 2-0 win over Athletic Bilbao on Wednesday.
Photo: Reuters
Barcelona and Real would meet in the competition’s final for third consecutive time, with Carlo Ancelotti’s side prevailing last year while Barça last lifted the trophy in 2023.
Barcelona hold the record of 14 titles with Real on 13.
Last year’s Copa del Rey finalists Mallorca defended well against Real and the game was goalless at the break after early attempts by Lucas Vazquez and Bellingham forced Mallorca keeper Dominik Greif into saves.
Photo: Reuters
However, Bellingham found a way past the Slovakian keeper in the 63rd minute following an excellent team move.
Rodrygo hit the post with a header and Kylian Mbappe’s follow up shot was brilliantly denied by Greif before Bellingham opened the scoring.
Real continued pushing to increase their lead, but did not find the net again until Valjent sent the ball into his own net two minutes into stoppage time, attempting to block a shot by Real substitute Brahim Diaz.
Photo: Reuters
Rodrygo made it 3-0 three minutes later, converting a stunning cross into the box by Vazquez to celebrate his 24th birthday in style.
The Spanish Super Cup has been a four-team competition since 2020, featuring the winners and runners-up of La Liga and the Copa del Rey.
Seperately, La Liga team Atletico Madrid on Thursday criticized a “dangerous precedent” set by the Spanish National Sports Council to allow Barcelona midfielder Dani Olmo to play on a temporary basis after his license expired.
Olmo and forward Pau Victor were unregistered by La Liga after Barcelona failed to get their short-term licences extended before the end of last year.
The Catalans sought and were granted a precautionary measure by the council on Wednesday, while their case against La Liga and the Spanish soccer federation’s decision is analyzed, which would allow Olmo and Victor to play until there is a final ruling.
“Atletico Madrid wish to express their deep concern about the situation in Spanish football following the resolution adopted this Wednesday by the Spanish National Sports Council,” the club said in a statement.
“We believe that this decision puts the current system in jeopardy, questioning the rules of the game,” it added.
“This government intervention creates a very dangerous precedent, as it opens the door to breaking the rules and making the same serious mistakes of the past,” it said.
Financially struggling Barcelona were not in a position to register Olmo and Victor under La Liga’s strict financial fair play rules, until they agreed a deal to sell some VIP seats to Middle Eastern investors late last month, with the paperwork not ready until after the deadline.
Without the missing players, Barcelona beat Athletic Bilbao to reach tomorrow’s Spanish Super Cup final in Saudi Arabia.
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Taiwan kept its hopes of advancing to the 2026 World Baseball Classic (WBC) alive with a 9-1 victory over South Africa in a qualifier at the Taipei Dome last night, backed by solid pitching. Bouncing back from Friday’s struggles on the mound, when Taiwanese pitchers surrendered 15 runs to Spain, Team Taiwan kept the visiting team in check, allowing just one run in the bottom of the fourth inning. The win was crucial for Taiwan, as a loss would have eliminated the team from contention for the next WBC. Starting pitcher Sha Tzu-chen (沙子宸) struck out one and allowed no hits, except for
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