Atlético Madrid and Real Madrid reached the Spanish Supercup, which is being held for the sixth time in Saudi Arabia, surrounded by doubts. Defeat at Anfield (1-0), with only two shots on goal and nine saves from Courtois, and defeat (1-2) against Manchester City at the Bernabéu. Therefore, and due to the poor run of results that has seen their lead in the league cut to four points with Barcelona five points away, Real Madrid and Xabi Alonso are playing for a significant part of their season in Saudi Arabia. And they will do so without Kylian Mbappé. After coming through their last four matches more creditably due to results than performance, the Supercup will be crucial. To start, a high-level duel. The only precedent of the season between them was a 5-2 victory for the red and whites. A derby against Atlético Madrid. This was their second big game in charge of Real Madrid that ended in a rout, after the 4-0 defeat by Paris Saint-Germain at the Club World Cup in the summer. This was followed by a 2-1 victory in the clásico against FC Barcelona, which bolstered his stature, but he quickly fell again. From which he emerged already questioned at the end of September, when he lost 5-2 at the Metropolitano. Xabi Alonso's side, after squandering a four-point lead in the league and accumulating defeats in big matches. Simeone's side, after drawing with Real Sociedad. The Frenchman has not traveled with the expedition to Jeddah due to a sprained left knee. Jeddah will deliver the verdict. Xabi Alonso needs two convincing victories to banish the ghosts. Poor results and inconsistency in play since November have put the coach under constant scrutiny.
