Real Madrid - Atletico Madrid: The Spotlight of the Madrid Derby

Real Madrid announced a squad of 24 players traveling to Jeddah to prepare for the Spanish Super Cup semifinal against Atletico Madrid on January 9. Notably, Kylian Mbappe remains absent, extending his streak of missed games after also missing the recent La Liga match against Real Betis last weekend. The striker is currently dealing with an injury, posing a real challenge to the White Falcons’ ambition of winning their 14th title in the competition’s history.

According to Los Blancos, the French forward has not yet recovered from a left knee sprain and will stay in Madrid for continued treatment. The 27-year-old star might travel to Saudi Arabia for the final if Alonso’s team overcomes Atletico.

Mbappe has faced fitness issues since December 7 last year, missing the match against Celta Vigo and the game versus Man City three days later. He returned on December 15 and scored in the 2-1 victory over Alaves.

Mbappe continued to shine in Real’s last two matches of 2025 — against Talavera in the Copa del Rey and Sevilla in La Liga. His three goals during this period matched Cristiano Ronaldo’s calendar year record of 59 goals.

However, during training on December 30 at Valdebebas, the key striker showed signs of pain in his left knee, and Real later confirmed he suffered a sprain.

Since joining Real Madrid in summer 2024, Mbappe has missed several crucial matches due to fitness problems. In four derby appearances, he scored two equalizing goals in La Liga, demonstrating his significant impact when fit. Therefore, his absence in Jeddah is considered a major loss for the Spanish royal club.

Mbappe’s continued absence in the Super Cup semifinal opens the door for Gonzalo Garcia — the 21-year-old striker who recently scored a hat-trick with just three shots in Real’s 5-1 demolition of Betis. Alonso is likely to rely on Garcia as the center forward against Atletico.

Real Madrid is showing signs of improvement with a streak of four consecutive wins, including an impressive 5-1 home victory over Real Betis in La Liga, despite Mbappe’s absence. The pressure on coach Xabi Alonso has somewhat eased. Securing two wins would bring the first trophy since he took over from Carlo Ancelotti at the end of last season.

Meanwhile, Atletico Madrid remains unbeaten in their last five official matches. After a 1-1 draw against Sociedad at the Reale Arena, Diego Simeone’s squad sits fourth in the 2025-2026 La Liga standings, trailing leaders Barcelona by 11 points. Given this gap, Atletico’s hopes of claiming their first La Liga title since the 2020-2021 season appear slim. They will need to focus on competitions like the Spanish Super Cup, Copa del Rey, and Champions League to end their five-year trophy drought.

Defensive issues are a major concern for Atletico Madrid at present. Simeone’s team has conceded goals in five of their last six matches, allowing seven goals in total. Their lack of concentration at crucial moments makes it difficult to maintain consistency, especially against strong opponents like Real Madrid.

On the other hand, Real enters the Super Cup semifinal with high spirits following a dominant 5-1 win over Real Betis. The White Falcons’ attack is highly efficient at capitalizing on chances, featuring multiple stars capable of sudden breakthroughs.

However, like their neighbors, Real Madrid’s defense is also a weak point. The royal club has conceded goals in five of their last six matches, allowing eight goals — a sign of vulnerability when facing a dangerous Atletico side skilled at counterattacks and exploiting opponents’ mistakes.

The Spanish Super Cup semifinal between Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid will take place at 2 AM on January 9.

Projected lineups for both teams

Atletico Madrid: Oblak, Llorente, Pubill, Le Normand, Hancko, Simeone, Gallagher, Koke, Baena, Sorloth, Alvarez

Real Madrid: Courtois, Valverde, Huijsen, Rudiger, Carreras, Camavinga, Tchouameni, Rodrygo, Bellingham, Vinicius, Garcia