Jude Bellingham scored his ninth goal in 11 matches in all competitions, leading Real Madrid to beat Mallorca 3-0 at King Abdullah Sports City in Jeddah, to qualify for the Spanish Super Cup final against Barcelona.
The England striker Bellingham put the defending champions ahead in the 63rd minute, after Rodrigo sent a header against the post and goalkeeper Dominic Greve blocked a Kylian Mbappé shot as part of a counter-attack.
Opponent defender Martin Valgent converted Ibrahim Diaz's pass into Real Madrid's second goal in the 92nd minute, before Rodrigo joined the scorers' list three minutes later from Lucas Vazquez's cross.
The two teams entered into a major confrontation on the field after the final whistle, in an incident that appeared to have erupted due to a dispute between Pablo Maffeo, the Mallorca player, and Vinicius Junior, the Real Madrid player.
The Spanish and European champions will meet local rivals Barcelona in the play-off match at the same stadium on Sunday (7pm GMT).
Jude Victor William Bellingham#SuperCup pic.twitter.com/xzDLqiqn8P
– Real Madrid FC 🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@realmadriden) January 9, 2025
Madrid vs Mallorca
Real Madrid had all 11 attempts on target between the two sides but were hampered by a lack of accuracy, with Mbappe now without a goal in more than three-and-a-half hours of football.
Despite having 35% possession and far fewer chances, Mallorca had the best chance before falling behind when Sil Larin wasted a brilliant opening chance from Dani Rodriguez's cross in the first half.
The condition of Aurelien Chouamini may be a bigger concern for Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti. The midfielder was starring until he was attacked while defending a cross against Larin five minutes into the second half, colliding with the striker and leaving the game with concussion.
Greve blocked two shots from Rodrigo and Mbappe late on, although Spain's sixth-placed side were not unduly troubled until the unlucky Valjeant poked Brahim Diaz's incisive pass beyond Greve.
Mbappé would almost certainly have got to the ball and scored had Valegent not intervened, and Mallorca would have had few complaints after creating precious little for most of the game.
🙌 We're going to the final! 🙌
🏁 @real madrid 3-0 @RCD_MallorcaEN
⚽ 63′ @bellinghamgood
⚽ 90+2′ Valjeant (f)
⚽ 90+5′ @RodrygoGoes#SuperCup | @The UAE pic.twitter.com/8wxZGOtEbe– Real Madrid FC 🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@realmadriden) January 9, 2025
Spanish Super Cup Final: Madrid vs Barcelona
Rodrygo's goal was a bizarre sight after the end of normal time, with Ancelotti among the obvious peacekeepers at the end of a hotly contested match.
Real Madrid, which is five points ahead of Barcelona, which is in third place at the top of the Spanish League, is seeking revenge against the team it beat 4-0 at the Santiago Bernabeu in the final on November 16.
They won the match 4-1 in last season's final, including a Vinicius Junior hat-trick in the first half.
