Having lost the final of the Spanish Super Cup last season, Real Madrid will feel like they have a score to settle in this game. Encouragingly for Ancelotti, he’s had the measure of his counterpart in the last two competitive matches, a stunning 4-0 victory in last seasons Copa del Rey semi-final, and then a 2-1 win in La Liga earlier in the season. That may provide a psychological advantage come full time, not least with the 2-1 win coming on the road via a last-minute Jude Bellingham winner.

The victory over arch-rivals Atletico Madrid to set up this clash meant that Real Madrid extended their unbeaten run to an astonishing twenty games, with sixteen of those being won. In fact, it’s only Diego Simeone’s side that have got the better of them this season as they won the first El Derbi Madrileño of this season 3-1. Los Blancos looked really sharp in their semi-final and are rightly marginal favourites.

Barcelona meanwhile have been very inconsistent of late, but Xavi will still be hoping to claim the first silverware of the season in order to provide a strong platform for the remainder of the campaign. A recent loss to Girona means they are playing catch up in La Liga and with key games in the Copa del Rey and the Champions League on the horizon, a win here could be pivotal for Barca.

These two sides possess world class attacking talent in abundance and this game is fancied to be a fairly open contest with the possibility of plenty of goals and shots on target. Real Madrid had 10 on target during their semi-final, albeit with the game going into extra time, whilst Barcelona had seven against Osasuna. Trawling through the statistics, there are a couple of likely candidates at a good price.

Rodrygo has been Real Madrid’s most consistent forward this season and arrived at the tournament in really good form. In fact, the Brazilian had six shots on target in his last five matches before this competition and continued that form by having three in the semi final against Atletico Madrid, and was really unfortunate not to score. Averaging 1.56 on target per game this term, he’s taken here.

On the opposing side Ilkay Gundogan seems to be fantastic value for a shot on target. The midfielder averages almost one every other game, but when you consider that he had two on target in the semi-final, he’s certainly one that has his eye in. The former Manchester City man also had a on target in the 2-1 loss to Real Madrid earlier in the season, and at the price, a chance is taken again here.

This could be a feisty contest between these two giants of the Spanish game, fuelled by the prize on offer, and as a result we could see a number of fouls during the game. Juan Martinez Munuera will officiate the game, and he has been averaging 26.69 fouls given per game. Fortunately we can take advantage of the expected high foul count as there is an obvious prime candidate when reviewing both the previous meetings and the seasonal statistics in La Liga.

Dani Carvajal is taken to draw plenty of attention from the man in the middle here. In the last head-to-head fixture between these sides, the right full back committed an astonishing five fouls and was subsequently booked. During the game he was found wanting coming up against the pace and trickery of Joao Felix, and the Portuguese winger is sure to give Carvajal plenty to think about again.

Additionally, the Spaniard committed a couple of fouls in the semi-final win against Atletico Madrid, and he could get embroiled yet again here. Looking further into the recent head-to-head matches, it’s interesting to note that Carvajal was also booked against Barcelona in the semi final of the Copa del Rey back in April last year and was booked in a pre-season friendly game which Real Madrid won.