A derby to crown a 'guest' champion
Real Madrid and Atlético seek to take advantage of their moods to conquer the Super Cup title
MADRID, Jan. 11 (SportsFinding) –
Real Madrid and Atlético de Madrid will fight this Sunday (7:00 p.m.) for being the first team to conquer the Spanish Super Cup under their new format of 'Final to Four', which has given them the possibility of opting for it ahead of the champion of LaLiga Santander, FC Barcelona, and that of the Copa del Rey, Valencia CF.
The first official title of the season brought together the two winners of the two national competitions, but its reform to increase cache has favored mattresses and Real Madrid players, classified by the new regulations and who were planted in the final of King Abdullad of Jeddah after leaving go to blaugranas and Valencianistas, respectively.
The two finalists, whose presence in this Super Cup has aroused some suspicion, want to squeeze even more their status as 'guests' to lift a trophy, which although it is not the most important of the season, can help both reinforce their already yes good moods.
Real Madrid continues immersed in that positive wave of good game and firmness since losing in Son Moix on October 19, a game from which he has not known defeat again. Atletico does not lag behind, since he fell in the league against Barça (0-1) has not bowed his knee.
Both have shown defensive strength and both Thibaut Courtois and Jan Oblak have conceded few goals. It is a reinforcement for the Belgian, who was discussed a few months ago; the opposite of Slovenian, which continues to be key for Diego Pablo Simeone's. In addition, the problem of his teammates with the goal seems to have taken a break in the semifinals.
As a result, this final was set, the fifth single game that the two Madrid teams live in a little over six years, after the two Champions League with merengue flavor (2014 and 2016) and the Copa del Rey (2013) next to the Supercup of Europe (2018) with rojiblancos colors, presenting the new in principle very balanced.
Both the 'Cholo' Simeone and Zinédine Zidane know each other very well and know where to hurt themselves, so now no big surprises are expected, beyond whether the Argentine will bet on being a bit more aggressive than he was last Thursday, or let him be his culé rival.
Before Barça, the mattress box waited a little further back and barely had control of the ball, an aspect that for his next date is assumed to be for Real Madrid players, where his coach must decide whether to repeat the formula of five midfielders.
'Zizou', before the casualties of Benzema, Bale and Hazard, preferred to surround Luka Jovic as midfielders (Casemiro, Valverde, Modric, Kroos and Isco), an approach that served to send him to Valencia and that has many signs of returning to appear this Sunday in the always intense 'battle' that will arise in the center of the field.
In any case, the entry of fresh air in the 'eleven' to the Brazilian Rodrygo and Vinicius, unpublished in the semifinals, or the Colombian James Rodríguez is not ruled out either; while, Marcelo could also occupy the left side instead of Mendy.
On the other hand, Simeone does not seem to have too many doubts either. He lost Captain Koke Resurrection in the semifinal, who entered the second half and fell injured again, so everything indicates that Mexican Hector Herrera will play alongside Thomas Partey, flanked by Saul and Correa.
The 'Cholo' confirmed in the previous one that the Uruguayan central José María Giménez is physically ready and could enter the rear as a companion of a Felipe who is going to more and instead of Savic. Above, new test for Portuguese João Félix as a partner of Álvaro Morata.
DATA SHEET.
– POSSIBLE ALIGNMENTS.
REAL MADRID: Courtois; Carvajal, Ramos, Varane, Marcelo; Valverde, Casemiro, Kroos, Modric; Isco and Jovic.
ATHLETIC OF MADRID: Oblak; Trippier, Giménez, Felipe, Lodi; Herrera, Thomas, Saul, Correa; João Felix and Morata.
– ARBITRATOR: José Luis Sánchez Martínez (C. Murciano).
– STADIUM: King Abdullah of Jeddah.
– HOUR: 19.00 / Movistar Champions League.