Immediate Reaction: Real Madrid 3-0 Mallorca

real Madrid 3-0 Mallorca (Bellingham and OG). Another final for the whites. Here is the immediate reaction. More for you: player ratings, quotes and the TakingMadrid podcast.

The four-team system of the Spanish Super Cup meant that Real Madrid would have to overcome Mallorca to be able to face Barcelona in the final. Ancelotti did not take risks with his lineup and fielded perhaps the strongest team possible. Lucas Vázquez captained Real Madrid.

These games are widely criticized for many reasons, and the forgettable first half didn’t challenge that belief in the slightest. Lucas Vazquez had a shot saved early, but a Jude Bellingham effort was the only other real chance of the half for either side. However, fans were still able to be entertained, in the form of a battle between Pablo Maffeo and Vinícius Júnior. The two clashed on several occasions, with Maffeo’s jump being the lowest point of the game and Vinícius’ greater restraint being the highest.

Proceedings improved during the second half, with Madrid taking the lead and Jude Bellingham finally managing to get past the four players on the line. This came after Rodrygo Goes hit the post and Kylian Mbappé failed to score the rebound. Chances were scarce again, but this time Madrid seemed much more comfortable with the reduced pace of the game. They struck the final blow in stoppage time, scoring the second when a defender put the ball into his own goal while trying to prevent Kylian Mbappé from achieving an easy shot. But they weren’t finished yet and Rodrygo Goes managed to score the goal after an attractive cross from Lucas Vázquez. Final, 3-0… and Barcelona reaches the final. Do you think Real Madrid can win this competition?