In one of the most prominent football matches at the beginning of the new year, Atlético Madrid faces its traditional rival Real Madrid in the semi-final of the Spanish Super Cup (Supercopa de España) on Thursday, January 8, 2026, at 20:00 Madrid time.
The match will take place at King Abdullah Sports City Stadium in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, as part of the current tournament structure that brings together four teams in a “Final Four” format.
This matchup is the second semi-final of the tournament, after Barcelona—the defending champion—qualified for the final by winning 5-0 against Athletic Bilbao in the first match.
The winner of the Madrid derby will face Barcelona in the final next Sunday, in search of the first title of the season. Background of the tournament and team standings: The Spanish Super Cup, which has been held in Saudi Arabia for years, features the champion and runner-up of La Liga and the champion and runner-up of the Copa del Rey from the previous season.
In the 2026 edition, the following four teams are participating:
- Barcelona (defending champion after winning in 2025).
- Real Madrid (runner-up in the league and Copa del Rey last season).
- Atlético Madrid.
- Athletic Bilbao.
Real Madrid aims to reach its fifth consecutive final and enhance its record number of titles (13 titles so far), while Atlético—under the leadership of Diego Simeone—hopes to reach the final for the first time since the 2019/2020 season and add only its third title in history.
History of encounters and recent performance
The Madrid derby is always filled with excitement and tension, as the two teams have met in over 240 official matches throughout history, with a historic advantage for Real Madrid (123 wins compared to 60 for Atlético, and 58 draws). However, in recent years, Atlético has become more competitive, especially under Simeone’s management.
In their last league match this season (September 2025), Atlético won with a stunning score of 5-2, giving the rojiblancos a significant morale boost. Additionally, Atlético enters the match after a disappointing 1-1 draw with Real Sociedad, while Real Madrid—led by coach Xabi Alonso—comes in with a positive streak of victories.
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