Real Madrid may be forced into late changes ahead of the Spanish Super Cup semi-final against Atlético de Madrid, with Antonio Rüdiger emerging as a major doubt for the derby in Saudi Arabia.
The club confirmed that the German defender trained separately from the squad on Wednesday (7). According to Marca, Rüdiger is dealing with knee discomfort and is now questionable for the match scheduled for Thursday (8), at 7:00 pm (UK time), at King Abdullah Sports City.
Rüdiger Doubt Forces Xabi Alonso to Consider Defensive Changes
Rüdiger started in Real Madrid’s 5–1 win over Real Betis, but was substituted late in the second half, raising concerns within the coaching staff. Should he be ruled out, head coach Xabi Alonso will be forced to make at least one defensive adjustment to his starting XI.
Another concern is Trent Alexander-Arnold, who also trained individually. The English right-back is expected to miss the match, with Federico Valverde once again favored to fill in at right-back.
“Anything can happen during a season. We had many injuries in November and December, which forced us to change several things,” Alonso explained.
Probable Real Madrid Lineup vs Atlético
According to AS, Real Madrid are expected to line up as follows if Rüdiger is unavailable:
Real Madrid:
Courtois; Valverde, Raúl Asencio, Huijsen, Carreras; Tchouaméni, Camavinga, Bellingham; Vinícius Júnior, Rodrygo, Gonzalo García.
Xabi Alonso emphasized the responsibility of representing the club on a stage of this magnitude:
“Real Madrid is a very demanding club, but we know what we represent. Defending this badge is a privilege. Every game is the most important, and the players feel that.”
Atlético de Madrid’s Likely XI
Atlético de Madrid could take the field with the following lineup:
Atlético de Madrid:
Oblak; Marcos Llorente, Pubill, Giménez, Hancko; Giuliano Simeone, Gallagher (or Johnny Cardoso), Koke, Álex Baena; Sørloth, Julián Álvarez.
Super Cup Final at Stake
Real Madrid remain alive in all competitions this season, and the Super Cup is viewed internally as a key objective.
“We are still fighting for all the titles. If we beat Atlético, we’ll be in the final. We work every day to help players overcome difficult moments,” Alonso concluded.
The winner of the Madrid derby will face Barcelona, who secured their place in the final after a dominant victory over Athletic Bilbao.
Siara Costa is a football editor and writer covering both European men’s and women’s football, with a focus on league competitions, match coverage, and in-depth storytelling.
