In a captivating Spanish Super Cup semifinal showdown Real Madrid Vs Atlético Madrid in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday, Real Madrid secured a thrilling victory over Atletico Madrid, marked by a display of own-goals, goalkeeping mishaps, and a significant milestone achieved by Antoine Griezmann. Two late goals propelled Madrid to a 5-3 win, with Griezmann surpassing Luis Aragonés as Atletico’s all-time top scorer, reaching an impressive total of 174 goals.
Looking ahead, Madrid is poised to face either Barcelona or Osasuna in the final on Sunday, with the outcome of their clash in Riyadh on Thursday determining the opponent.
Describing the intense match, Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti remarked, “They did well in the first half and in the second we were able to improve. Both teams played very well. It was a spectacular match, we won because we had a bit more energy in the end.”
Atletico initially took the lead with a header by Mario Hermso in the sixth minute, but Madrid quickly turned the tables with goals from Antonio Rüdiger (20th minute) and Ferland Mendy (29th minute). Griezmann then scored a milestone goal in the 37th minute, showcasing skillful maneuvers and a right-footed low shot from outside the area.
An own-goal by Rüdiger in the 78th minute put Atletico back in the lead, but Dani Carvajal equalized in the 85th minute, sending the game into extra time. Madrid ultimately secured victory with Stefan Savic’s own goal in the 116th minute and Brahim Díaz sealing the win in stoppage time.
The match marked the first of three encounters between the Madrid rivals in less than a month, with upcoming fixtures in the Copa del Rey and the Spanish league.
The Super Cup’s new “final four” format pits the top two teams from the previous Spanish league season against the last two Copa del Rey finalists. The victory continued Madrid’s unbeaten run of 20 consecutive matches, with their only loss this season coming against Atletico in the Spanish league in September.
The match in Saudi Arabia witnessed a mostly quiet crowd, and there were apparent jeers during the moment of silence for the late German football legend Franz Beckenbauer. Madrid midfielder Toni Kroos, who criticized the decision to play in Saudi Arabia, faced booing from the crowd. This edition of the Super Cup, featuring the new format, follows the lucrative multi-year deal that brought the competition to Saudi Arabia in 2020.