Valverde decides the derby and sets up a meeting between Madrid and Barça in the final
- Valverde breaks the deadlock in the first minute
- Rodrygo scores the second
- Sorloth gets Atleti back into the game
Despite their efforts, the Colchoneros were unable to avoid a fourth consecutive Clásico in the final of the Spanish Super Cup. The Saudi derby was the second of the season and the first of 2026. The Metropolitano saw a 5-2 league win for Atleti in a historic match. Valverde opened the scoring with a stunning free kick in the first minute, assisted Rodrygo for the 0-2, and Sorloth got Atleti back into the game with a header three minutes later.
Barrios and Mbappé were absent from this match. The Frenchman, with a sprained knee, and the Moratalaz native, with a strained soleus, were not present.
Valverde breaks the deadlock in the first minute
Fede Valverde opened the scoring with a direct free kick in the first minute. His powerful shot beat Oblak, going in off the right post. The wall could perhaps have done more, but the goal was spectacular.
The next dangerous moment came when Marcos Llorente passed back to Oblak and Vinícius came close to intercepting. The Rojiblancos kept pushing, and Julián almost connected with a pass from Baena, but Rüdiger and Courtois thwarted the move.
Julián tried a pass to Giuliano, who ended up falling without contact from Camavinga, and another forced shot that Courtois saved without any problems.
Madrid, on the counter-attack, came close to scoring a second. Carreras forced the play, Rodrygo broke away at speed and his shot was cleared by Oblak. In the next move, Rodrygo crossed for Vinícius, who headed over the bar.
Atleti responded with a good shot from Baena, cleared by Courtois. Shortly afterwards, the Belgian made a saving stop from a Sorloth header after a corner. Gallagher crossed, Sorloth, surprised, headed over. Baena, in another great individual move, tested Courtois again.
Rodrygo scores the second
The second half started intensely. Le Normand, who came on for Gallagher, shot over the bar. Rüdiger had to work hard to intercept a cross from Ruggeri aimed at Julián Álvarez. Valverde, shortly afterwards, shot over the bar.
The Uruguayan, not content with that, added an assist to his goal. He saw Rodrygo in the centre and played a great pass to him. The Brazilian outpaced Le Normand and beat Oblak with a cross-shot.
Sorloth gets Atleti back into the game
Just when Atleti seemed to be flagging, they woke up. A cross from Giuliano Simeone into the box was headed into the back of the net by Sorloth, who beat Asencio in the air.
Simeone brought on Cardoso and Griezmann for Koke and Baena. Rodrygo gave everyone a scare after a collision with Julián, but he was able to continue. Cardoso sought the equaliser with a header from a Julián cross, but it went over the bar. Sorloth, meanwhile, created a chance that Courtois saved at the near post.
Xabi Alonso replaced Asencio and Rüdiger with Mendy and Fran García. Simeone, in turn, brought on Almada for Sorloth. Rodrygo sought the third with a powerful shot that Oblak saved. There were more changes: Molina came on for Ruggeri for Atleti and Arda Güler for Vinícius for Madrid. The Brazilian's substitution led to a clash with Simeone, and both were shown yellow cards. The Argentine coach said to him: ‘Listen,’ referring to the whistles from the crowd.
Atleti come close to equalising
In the final minutes, Atleti burned their last chances. Griezmann attempted an overhead kick from a Hancko cross, which was cleared by Courtois. In a combination between Julián and Llorente, the Madrid native shot wide. Marcos tried his luck again from outside the area, causing a scare in the stands.
For Madrid, Rodrygo and Camavinga made way for Mastantuono and Ceballos. Llorente continued to run down the right wing and Tchouaméni prevented his cross from reaching Griezmann. Atleti tried until the end, but fatigue took its toll on both teams, despite a deflected shot from Julián after a good pass from Almada.
Finally, there will be a Clásico next Sunday. Barcelona and Real Madrid will once again compete for the first title of the season. The Whites will be looking to get their own back after losing the Super Cup, Cup and League to the Catalans last year.
