Bellingham, Mbappe start in a 4-2-3-1 – How Real Madrid can line up against Barcelona | OneFootball

Real Madrid will be aiming to win their third trophy of the 2024/25 season when they lock horns with arch-rivals FC Barcelona later tonight in the finals of the Spanish Super Cup.

Having already lifted the UEFA Super Cup and the FIFA Intercontinental Cup, Carlo Ancelotti & co. will be eager for more silverware, that too at the expense of their bitter rivals.

Real Madrid have won three in three so far in 2025, most recently defeating RCD Mallorca in the Super Cup semi-finals earlier this week.

Heading into the game, Ancelotti has welcomed Luka Modric back into the fold after he missed the semi-finals due to illness. Meanwhile, Aurelien Tchouameni, Jude Bellingham, and Federico Valverde are all fit and available after picking up minor problems in the last match.

With the silverware on the line and revenge on their minds after a 4-0 humbling in the previous El Clasico, here is how Real Madrid could line up against Hansi Flick’s Barcelona tonight in Jeddah.

Defence

It is unlikely that Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti will make any changes to the team started in the semi-finals against Mallorca earlier this week.

As such, Lucas Vazquez is expected to continue at right-back in Dani Carvajal’s absence while Ferland Mendy should slot in on the left side of the defence.

Vazquez and Mendy were torn apart by Barcelona’s wingers in the first Clasico of the season and will need to be much more solid in defence tonight.

As for the centre-back slots, there is no looking past Antonio Rudiger as one of the starters while Ancelotti continues to prefer Aurelien Tchouameni as the German’s partner over academy ace Raul Asencio.

Midfield

Key man in midfield. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)

Federico Valverde has been playing relentlessly without much of a rest this season, highlighting the importance of the Uruguayan for Real Madrid and the trust that Ancelotti places in him. His starting place, that too in a final, is never a doubt.

Valverde is likely to form a double pivot in the middle of the park with Eduardo Camavinga, who is expected to get the nod ahead of Dani Ceballos and captain Luka Modric.

Meanwhile, Jude Bellingham, who has been in red-hot form in recent weeks and has been a key reason behind Real Madrid’s surge, ought to slot in as the attacking midfielder trying to make runs from deep to break Barcelona’s offside trap.

Attack

The attacking unit for Real Madrid picks itself, with star man Vinicius Jr. slotting in on the left flank and his compatriot Rodrygo Goes taking up the right wing.

Marquee summer signing Kylian Mbappe will spearhead the attack for Los Blancos and look to score in another final, having already done so in the UEFA Super Cup and the FIFA Intercontinental Cup.

However, the French megastar endured a forgettable Clasico debut, when he was caught offside numerous times by the Barcelona defence and he will hope to avoid a repeat.

The likes of Brahim Diaz, Arda Guler, and Endrick will be options from the bench for Ancelotti to change things up if needed.