Bellingham’s goal helps the defending champions prepare for the Spanish Super Cup final against Barcelona

Jude Bellingham scored his ninth goal in 11 games in all competitions as Real Madrid beat Mallorca 3-0 at the King Abdullah Sports City in Jeddah to set up the Spanish Super Cup final against Barcelona.

England striker Bellingham gave the defending champions the lead in the 63rd minute after Rodrygo sent a header against the post and Kylian Mbappé’s shot was parried by goalkeeper Dominik Greif as part of a counter-attack.

Opposing defender Martin Valjent converted a pass from Brahim Diaz for Madrid’s second goal in the 92nd minute, and three minutes later Rodrygo got on the scoresheet after a sharp cross from Lucas Vazquez.

Both teams were involved in a heated confrontation on the pitch after the final whistle, apparently sparked by a disagreement between Mallorca’s Pablo Maffeo and Madrid’s Vinicius Junior.

The reigning Spanish and European champions face domestic title rivals Barca in the decider at the same stadium on Sunday (7pm GMT).

Jew Victor William Bellingham#SuperSupercopa pic.twitter.com/xzDLqiqn8P

— Real Madrid CF 🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@realmadriden) January 9, 2025

Madrid against Mallorca

Madrid had put all 11 of the two teams’ shots on target on target, but were hampered by a lack of accuracy as Mbappe had now not scored for more than three and a half hours of football.

Despite 35% possession and significantly fewer chances, Mallorca arguably had the best opportunity before falling behind when Cyle Larin made an excellent first-half opening from Dani Rodriguez’s cross.

Aurelien Tchouameni’s condition may be a bigger concern for Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti. The midfielder played a starring role until, five minutes after the restart, he suffered a poleax while defending a cross from Larin, collided with the striker and left the pitch with a concussion.

Greif parried goals from Rodrygo and Mbappé late on, although the sixth-placed team in Spain were not in undue trouble until the unfortunate Valjent parried Brahim Diaz’s incisive pass past Greif.

Mbappe would almost certainly have reached the ball and scored had Valjent not made an effort to intervene, and Mallorca could hardly have complained after barely creating anything for much of the game.

🙌 WE’RE GOING TO THE FINAL! 🙌
🏁 @RealMadridEN 3-0 @RCD_MallorcaEN
⚽ 63′ @BellinghamJude
⚽ 90+2′ Valjent (and)
⚽ 90+5′ @RodrygoGoes#SuperSupercopa | @Emirates pic.twitter.com/8wxZGOtEbe

— Real Madrid CF 🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@realmadriden) January 9, 2025

Spanish Super Cup final: Madrid vs Barcelona

Rodrygo’s goal set off a strange scene after the end of the game, with Ancelotti among the apparent peacekeepers after a hard-fought game ended in acrimony.

Madrid, five points clear of third-placed Barca at the top of La Liga, will now seek revenge in the final against the team that beat them 4-0 at the Santiago Bernabeu on November 16.

They won the game 4-1 in last season’s final, including a first-half hat-trick from Vinicius Junior.