Ahead of the clash, Real Madrid fans are sweating on the fitness of stars Jude Bellingham, Federico Valverde, Luka Modric and Aurelien Tchouameni.
Bellingham has a hamstring injury, Valverde an adductor issue, Modric is lacking match fitness, and Tchouameni has a head injury. These issues emerged during Real's Super Cup semi-final win over Mallorca, and could hamper their chances against Barcelona.
Last year, Real Madrid beat Barcelona 4-1 in the Spanish Super Cup final. However, after the Mallorca win, coach Carlo Ancelotti voiced his concerns about the upcoming final:
"In recent Clasicos, the results have been very unpredictable. There have been games where we have won easily, but also games where they have beaten us 0-4. It is very difficult to predict what the upcoming final will be like, but it will certainly be very exciting because there will be a lot of talent on the pitch. We will try to do better than Barcelona," said the Italian.
Despite Real Madrid's injury concerns, El Clasico always throws up surprises. Barcelona are also in inconsistent form and will be looking to exploit any weaknesses in the Real Madrid team. The upcoming final is not only a clash between the two greatest teams in Spain, but also a psychological springboard for both sides as they head into 2025.
The match between Real Madrid and Barca will take place at 2:00 am on January 13 (Vietnam time). The game will be played at the King Abdullah Sports City Stadium in Saudi Arabia.
