Three Big Real Madrid Stars Doubtful For FC Barcelona Super Cup Final

Three big name Real Madrid stars are doubtful for Sunday's Spanish Super Cup final clash with FC Barcelona.

The fixture is a repeat of deciders that took place in the competition in 2023 and 2024.

While the now-fired club legend Xavi Hernandez managed his first piece of silverware in the dugout for his boyhood club by topping Madrid in the former meeting, a Vinicius Jr. hat trick and 4-1 thrashing in the latter put a nail in the former midfielder's coffin.

Likewise a year later, Xavi's successor Hansi Flick will try to seal his first maiden trophy as a Barca manager by topping Carlo Ancelotti as he did back in October.

Despite the Brazilian being suspended, and the Italian reportedly being "tired" of the controversies that surround him, Vinicius can once again try and terrorize the Blaugrana as his two-match ban picked up at Valencia only pertains to La Liga.

Still a trio of other Los Blancos heavyweights are doubtful for the latest installment of El Clasico.

Luka Modric came down with a virus in the hours leading up to kick off and was omitted from the squad list, so we'll have to see whether he has recovered enough to at least make the cut this time when said document is shared later on Saturday.

Also in midfield, Fede Valverde and Jude Bellingham have what Ancelotti described as muscle "overloads".

While Valverde was brought off in the 74th minute of the Super Cup semi final win against Mallorca on Thursday, Bellingham was seen going to the turf exhausted on more than one occasion and touching the back of his legs.

MORE FOR YOU
California Wildfire Live Updates: Newsom Launches Investigation Into Crucial Water Shortages As Death Toll Reaches 11
Today’s NYT Mini Crossword Clues And Answers For Saturday, January 11
WWE SmackDown Results, Winners And Grades On January 10, 2025

Aurelien Tchouameni took a heavy blow to the head trying to win the ball earlier in the second half, but he is still expected to feature from the offset either in central defense or perhaps more advanced in midfield if Valverde - who forms a double pivot with Eduardo Camavinga - can't make the first whistle.

As the only player that has started all 29 games of Madrid's campaign in 2024/2025 so far, Valverde not lining up for Ancelotti would be a setback for the reigning champions of the competition, which routinely takes place in Saudi Arabia.