Sports Desk:

LaLiga leaders Real recovered from that setback and are on a five-match winning streak ahead of defending the Super Cup in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, but coach Carlo Ancelotti is cautious.

“We have to think about what happened in the first game because they beat us (in LaLiga),” Ancelotti told reporters on Saturday as he looked forward to Real’s second cup final in a month, having won the Intercontinental Cup in December.

Ancelotti said his players could avenge their thrashing earlier this season by Barcelona, if they avoided making the same mistakes.

“We’ve made a pretty clear assessment, so we’ll have to repeat the good things we did and avoid the mistakes. A Clasico is always a Clasico, but a final puts a bit more pressure on you,” Ancelotti added.

Ancelotti has all the players who travelled available for the final including England midfielder Jude Bellingham, who experienced some muscle issues during the semifinal where he scored the first goal in a 3-0 win over Mallorca.

The coach said the Super Cup was an important title, and statistically Real had a good season every time they won it.

“When we haven’t won it, it hasn’t gone well. It’s a competition that gives you a lot more motivation,” said Ancelotti, whose last two Champions League trophies with Real have coincided with Super Cup wins.

Meanwhile, Barcelona midfielder Dani Olmo will be able to play after the Catalans were controversially granted a temporary licence for him by Spain’s national sports council (CSD).

Barcelona coach Hansi Flick said Olmo was ready to play but suggested he might not start after Gavi shone in the semifinal against Athletic Bilbao in the attacking midfield role.

“Gavi had a great performance against Athletic, he’s got confidence… I think he’s is going to play, but I am not 100 percent sure of who will play,” said Flick.

HIGHLIGHTS

*If Real Madrid are able to defend the Spanish Super Cup against archrivals Barcelona on Sunday night, they will equal the Catalans’ record of winning the title 14 times.

*However, since the tournament changed to a four-team format since 2020, Real have won three (in 2020, 2022, and 2024) out of the five times. Athletic Bilbao (2021) and Barcelona (2023) won it once each.

*Real also have a better record against Barcelona in the Spanish Super Cup – Los Blancos have won seven times while Barca won twice in the seven occasions they went up against each other in the final.

*The Super Cup offers Hansi Flick’s first chance of winning a silverware since arriving at Barcelona.