Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the Spanish Super Cup match.
The reigning Spanish champions, Real Madrid, are heading to Saudi Arabia with one goal in mind—to leave their competitors behind and claim the Super Cup. RCD Mallorca have the potential to pose challenges for the Madrid side, particularly as they utilised few of their main squad in a recent cup match.
Real Madrid
A challenging victory over Valencia (2:1) was achieved by Real Madird without Vinícius Júnior—his teammates secured three points at the Mestalla following the Brazilian's dismissal. It seems opponents have found a way to counter Real Madrid's star-studded attack, making it difficult for the likes of Kylian Mbappé, Vinícius Jr., and Jude Bellingham to operate without open space and maintain possession. Meanwhile, Carlo Ancelotti is still dealing with the absence of three defenders, forcing Aurelien Tchouameni to fill in at the heart of the defence.
RCD Mallorca
Since reaching the Copa del Rey final last spring, Mallorca have significantly improved their performances. A victory over Getafe (1:0) in their last match of 2024 helped Mallorca remain in the top 6, trailing the Champions League spots by just six points. Their cup tie against Pontevedra (0:3) is not worth considering, as the team fielded an unmotivated reserve line-up, yet they still managed to create 1.19 xG.
Real Madrid vs RCD Mallorca Prediction
In the first round of La Liga, Mallorca held Real Madrid to a draw on home soil (1:1), and ahead of the Super Cup semi-final, the underdogs will enjoy three extra days of rest. We lean towards an unexpected bet on Mallorca with a handicap, as they are likely to challenge the Madrid side.
