The first trophy of 2026 is on the line tonight, Sunday, January 11, 2026, as Barcelona and Real Madrid face off in the Spanish Super Cup Final at the King Abdullah Sports City Stadium in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
In what has become a tradition, the two giants meet in the final for the fourth consecutive year. Barcelona enters as the defending champion, looking for a record-extending 16th title, while Real Madrid aims to close the gap with their 14th.
Match Details: Kick-off & Official Info
Competition: Spanish Super Cup (Final)
Date: Sunday, January 11, 2026
Kick-off: 19:00 GMT / 20:00 CET / 22:00 Local
Venue: King Abdullah Sports City, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
Referee: José Luis Munuera Montero
Broadcast: TNT Sports 1 (UK), ABC/ESPN+ (US), Movistar Plus+ (Spain)
The Storyline: Flick’s Perfection vs. Alonso’s Resilience
Barcelona: The Nine-Game Winning Machine
Hansi Flick’s Barcelona is arguably the most in-form team in world football. The Blaugrana arrive in Jeddah on a nine-match winning streak across all competitions, outscoring opponents 13–0 in their last five games alone. Their semi-final performance was a statement of intent, a 5–0 demolition of Athletic Club that saw Ferran Torres and Fermín López shine.
With a four-point lead at the top of La Liga, Flick has successfully implemented a high-intensity system that has turned the Catalan side into a defensive fortress. Tonight, the return of Lamine Yamal to the starting XI after a minor fitness scare provides the final piece of their attacking puzzle.
Real Madrid: Xabi Alonso’s First Final
For Real Madrid, tonight is about more than just a trophy; it’s a validation of Xabi Alonso’s project. Despite being under heavy pressure late in 2025, Alonso has guided Los Blancos to five consecutive wins, including a gritty 2–1 semi-final victory over Atlético Madrid.
The major talking point in Madrid is the fitness of Kylian Mbappé. The Frenchman traveled to Saudi Arabia late after recovering from a knee sprain. While Alonso has stated he won't be "kamikaze" with Mbappé's health, the striker's presence—even off the bench—could be the deciding factor in a cagey final.
Team News & Probable Lineups
Barcelona Team News
Injury Ward: Gavi, Marc-André ter Stegen, and Andreas Christensen remain long-term absentees.
Return: Lamine Yamal is confirmed fit to start on the right wing.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): J. Garcia; Kounde, Cubarsí, E. Garcia, Balde; Pedri, De Jong; Yamal, Fermín, Raphinha; Torres.
Real Madrid Team News
Major Doubt: Kylian Mbappé faces a late fitness test. Rodrygo and Antonio Rüdiger are also nursing knocks but are expected to play.
Out: Éder Militão (hamstring) and Trent Alexander-Arnold (thigh). Brahim Díaz is away at AFCON.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Courtois; Valverde, Asencio, Huijsen, Carreras; Tchouaméni, Camavinga; Rodrygo, Bellingham, Vinicius Junior; Mbappé.
Head-to-Head (H2H) & Key Stats
The Last Meeting: Real Madrid won the only Clásico of the season so far, a 2–1 victory at the Bernabéu in October 2025.
High Scoring: Matches between these two in the Supercopa have produced 16 goals across the last three finals.
Barcelona's Defense: Hansi Flick's side has kept five consecutive clean sheets heading into tonight.
Saudi Dominance: This is the 263rd competitive El Clásico, but Madrid has historically struggled in Supercopa finals against Barça, losing two of the last three.
Match Prediction
Barcelona enters as slight favorites due to their incredible defensive form and fewer injury concerns in the backline. However, Real Madrid’s knack for winning finals—and the potential "X-factor" of a returning Mbappé—makes this impossible to call with certainty.
Final Score Prediction: Barcelona 2–2 Real Madrid (Barça to win on penalties)
