Real Madrid vs Mallorca prediction: SPAIN: Super Cup betting tips on match 2025-01-08 19:00.
[p]Real Madrid’s 2025 got off to an eventful start, as an injury-time strike helped them beat Valencia 2-1 in La Liga after VinĂcius JĂşnior was sent off and Luka Modrić became the oldest player to score a competitive goal for the club. Modrić broke Ferenc Puskás’ previous record by netting the equaliser, showing he’s still a vital asset as Carlo Ancelotti’s men face their third game in seven days.[/p]
[p]Los Blancos’ squad depth being tested has been a theme all season, and with defenders David Alaba, Dani Carvajal and Éder Militão not close to returning, there is speculation that reinforcements could arrive this month. Nothing is likely to change in time to help them defend this title as Madrid chase a record-equalling 14th Spanish Super Cup trophy, but to keep that dream alive they’ll have to get past last season’s Copa del Rey runners-up Mallorca.[/p]
[p]There’ll be no repeat of that Copa del Rey performance this term as Mallorca were unceremoniously dumped out on Friday by fourth-tier Pontevedra (L 3-0). While they should be fresher than their esteemed opponents having not played since, they’ll need to rebound quickly from that defeat, which was unexpected given that Jagoba Arrasate’s men went into the winter break having won their final two league games of 2024.[/p]
[p]The Pirates’ one and only triumph in this competition came back in 1998, beating Barcelona 3-1 over two legs, while in 2003 they were runners-up to Madrid, against whom they lost 4-2 on aggregate. But for all that positive history, they have a poor recent H2H record, winning just one of the last eight meetings with Madrid (D1, L6), which suggests they have a difficult task ahead.[/p]
[p]Players to watch: Madrid’s Jude Bellingham showed impressive resilience to assist and score against Valencia after missing a penalty – three of his last four goals arrived between the 35th and 60th minute. Cyle Larin has scored each of Mallorca’s last three goals, the last two of them between the 50th and 55th minute.[/p]
[p]Hot stat: Six of Real Madrid’s last seven Super Cup games saw both teams score (W5, L2).[/p]
[p][i]Written by John Pennington[/i][/p]