Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti is confident Los Blancos can avenge their earlier season thrashing by Barcelona and claim the Spanish Super Cup title on Sunday—if they avoid repeating past errors.
Hansi Flick’s Barcelona stunned Los Blancos with a 4-0 victory at the Santiago Bernabeu in October during a La Liga clash. However, a subsequent dip in Barcelona’s form before the winter break allowed Real Madrid to retake the league lead.
“We have to think about that game, obviously. They beat us, and we thoroughly evaluated what went wrong,” Ancelotti said during a press conference in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on Saturday.
“We started that match well but faltered in the second half. This time, we need to replicate the positives and avoid the mistakes we made.”
Facing Barcelona in a Clasico is always intense, but playing them in a final adds even more pressure, Ancelotti noted.
Madrid, bolstered by the arrival of French superstar Kylian Mbappé last summer, boasts a formidable attacking lineup with Vinícius Junior, Jude Bellingham, and Rodrygo Goes. However, Ancelotti acknowledged that this attacking strength must not come at the expense of defensive solidity.
“Individual quality has often prevailed in recent Clasicos,” Ancelotti explained. “For tomorrow, balance and collective defensive work will be key. If you defend well, your chances of winning increase.”
Ancelotti also reflected on last year’s accomplishments, which included La Liga and Champions League triumphs, admitting that the defeat to Barcelona remains a low point.
“We’re close to another trophy, and we’re thinking positively. But we know anything can happen, especially against a strong opponent like Barcelona,” said Ancelotti, who has already guided his team to European Super Cup and Intercontinental Cup wins this season.
Meanwhile, Barcelona received a boost with Dani Olmo declared eligible to play after Spain’s National Sports Council (CSD) controversially granted him a temporary licence.
“Olmo will play, and we need to minimize his impact,” said Ancelotti, avoiding comment on the controversy surrounding the case.
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