Real Madrid 3 Real Mallorca 0: Vinicius Jr’s key role, red-hot Rodrygo – now for Clasico revenge?

After their 4-0 humbling by Barcelona in October, Real Madrid will have a chance for revenge against their arch-rivals in the Supercopa de Espana final on Sunday.

Carlo Ancelotti’s side set up that rematch with a 3-0 semi-final win against Real Mallorca in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, in which they were made to suffer. Mallorca defender Pablo Maffeo clashed with Vinicius Junior on a number of occasions and the result was only sealed with two goals in stoppage time — but Madrid’s talent prevailed and they will fight for another trophy.

“It was a demanding match until the end,” said Ancelotti. “They are a very dangerous team in the air and anything could have happened.”

An inspired Jude Bellingham opened the scoring in the 63rd minute, before a Martin Valjent’s 92nd-minute own goal and Rodrygo’s effort, three minutes later, rounded off the win.

The Athletic analyses the key talking points.

Banned in La Liga, Vinicius Jr proves a difference-maker

On Tuesday, Vinicius Jr was handed a two-match ban in La Liga for violent conduct after his red card against Valencia for pushing goalkeeper Stole Dimitrievski. The ban only applies to league fixtures, meaning the Brazilian was free to play here.

He was in the spotlight again against Mallorca, particularly given he was facing Maffeo — the right-back with whom he has often sparred.

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It was no different this time. In the 12th minute, Maffeo fell to the ground after a light touch from Vinicius Jr and in the 24th minute he was seen telling the Madrid forward to be quiet. Around the half-hour mark, Vinicius Jr ended up on the floor after an acrobatic fall following a dispute between the pair.

At half-time, both players went to referee Ricardo de Burgos Bengoetxea to ask for explanations. They had to be separated by their teams’ staff in the tunnel, as images from Catalan outlet Jijantes showed.

On the pitch, Vinicius Jr was key. He led the counter-attack and provided the incisive cross that led to Bellingham’s goal. There was another impressive move in the 76th minute when he beat two defenders (one of them Maffeo) before reaching the byline, going it alone inside the box and skewing a shot wide.

Vinicius Jr and Maffeo speak to referee De Burgos Bengoetxea (Jose Breton/Pics Action/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

He completed three dribbles and showed once again why the Supercopa is one of his favourite tournaments. According to Opta before the match, since the competition’s new, mini-tournament format was adopted in 2020, Vinicius Jr had attempted the most dribbles, won the most fouls and taken the most shots after carries of any player.

Ancelotti withdrew Vinicius Jr in the 87th minute. Soon after, there was a flashpoint involving Maffeo after replays showed Bellingham slapping the defender on the head after Madrid’s third goal. Vinicius Jr laughed from the sidelines as assistant Francesco Mauri took him away from the melee.

“Every game we have problems with him (Maffeo),” Aurelien Tchouameni told Spanish broadcaster Movistar. “Problems between Vinicius and him? We know, but it’s not important. We don’t want to talk about this guy because that’s what he wants.”

Last year, Vinicius Jr scored a hat-trick in the 4-1 Supercopa final win against Barcelona and was man of the match. He has a chance to repeat that feat.

Is Rodrygo underrated?

Vinicius Jr’s compatriot Rodrygo has experienced a stop-start season.

Kylian Mbappe’s arrival took away his starting spot up front and the coaching staff see him as their fourth option in attack, behind Bellingham, Vinicius Jr and Mbappe. Three separate muscle injuries have prevented him from playing more.

But something has changed in recent games. Rodrygo has been involved in six goals (four goals and two assists) in five matches. He was dangerous against Mallorca with seven shots, three of them on target. He completed 42 of his 46 passes (a 91 per cent success rate), won four of six duels, provided two key passes and scored late on.

He should have netted Madrid’s first when his header from close range cannoned off the post, but his movement created that chance before Bellingham scored on the rebound. And his goal from Lucas Vazquez’s cross was the perfect gift on Rodrygo’s 24th birthday.

Despite not being an undisputed starter, Rodrygo is the player most involved in Madrid’s attacking sequences in La Liga — as the below graphic shows.

And whenever he is doing well, Ancelotti clearly prefers Rodrygo to Brahim Diaz or Arda Guler — even though the two substitutes have impressed.

How are Madrid shaping up before another Clasico?

This win made it six in a row in all competitions for Ancelotti’s side. Their last defeat was on December 4 against Athletic — but since then something has changed. Dressing-room sources, who asked to remain anonymous to protect relationships, say there is now a more relaxed atmosphere.

“We have to get to January alive,” was what Ancelotti repeated several times before Christmas, with fears about the intense schedule his side would then face.

The Intercontinental Cup win last month was a boost for the Italian. Even if the new version of the FIFA Club World Cup might not be the most illustrious tournament, it made Ancelotti the most successful coach in the club’s history with 15 titles, surpassing the legendary Miguel Munoz.

Players including Bellingham are reaching their top form (Antonio Villalba/Real Madrid via Getty Images)

The team’s workrate has also improved, with Rodrygo, Bellingham and Mbappe all getting closer to their best levels.

“The team looks much better now but every game has its problems, its difficulties,” Ancelotti said before the semi-final. “I am calm in the knowledge that the team is preparing very well. It’s a question of attitude and commitment.”

Madrid will want to make up for their 4-0 rout by Barcelona at the Bernabeu in La Liga. And, while Bellingham and Federico Valverde left the pitch with adductor strains, club sources say Ancelotti hopes they will be fit for the final.

That is why no drastic changes are expected in the XI and it could be similar to the 4-3-3 formation employed against Mallorca. It is a system that has worked well in recent games. He knows the final could be a turning point in their season.

What next for Real Madrid?

Sunday, January 12: Barcelona, Supercopa de Espana final, 7pm GMT, 2pm ET.

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(Top photo by Ismael Adnan Yaqoob/Anadolu via Getty Images)