Spanish Super Cup final: Will Real Madrid miss Raul Asencio and Antonio Rudiger against Barcelona?

Real Madrid centre-back Antonio Rüdiger is doubtful for the Spanish Super Cup final against Barcelona in Saudi Arabia. While Los Blancos will have Kylian Mbappé back for the El Clásico, the availability of Rodrygo Goes and Raúl Asencio is also uncertain, according to some reports.

Both Rodrygo and Asencio were forced out of the semi-final and will be assessed during Friday and Saturday, with their availability for El Clásico still in question, Managing Madrid said in a report. Rüdiger was doubtful ahead of the derby but was finally named in the starting eleven, the report added.

Throughout the season, Xabi Alonso has been troubled by injury concerns in the defensive department. Captain Dani Carvajal and Brazilian centre-back Éder Militão are still absent from the squad, while Rüdiger and David Alaba have not been consistent fitness-wise either. Rüdiger and Alaba are said to be on their way out, as Los Blancos are unlikely to renew their contracts.

In the worst-case scenario, Alonso will have to choose between Fran García, Ferland Mendy, and Dean Huijsen to support Álvaro Carreras in the backline. Federico Valverde and Aurélien Tchouaméni could be handed defensive responsibilities too if both Rüdiger and Asencio are ruled unfit to start. It remains to be seen if the line will be foolproof against an in-form Barcelona side that has been scoring goals with ease.

Real Madrid got goals from Federico Valverde and Rodrygo to beat Atlético Madrid 2-1, setting up a Clásico final. Atlético had previously beaten Madrid 5-2 when they met in La Liga in September. Earlier, Fermín López scored one goal and assisted two more as Barcelona tore through Athletic Bilbao to record a 5-0 victory in Jeddah.