Real Madrid players have aimed arch-rivals Barcelona, firing verbal shots that have intensified the Clasico rivalry.
Barcelona demolished Athletic Club 5-0 earlier this week, carrying ominous momentum into the decider where last season’s comprehensive Blaugrana victory still haunts Madrid’s collective memory.
Xabi Alonso’s squad acknowledges the Herculean challenge ahead, despite advancing to the semifinals, with key performers openly addressing Barcelona’s psychological edge from their recent finals dominance.
The January desert classic promises technical mastery, tactical chess, and raw rivalry as both camps sharpen for early 2026 supremacy.
Real Madrid’s Federico Valverde delivered the pointed warning after his Man of the Match free-kick masterpiece opened scoring inside two minutes against Atletico, stressing mental preparation as Barcelona’s ultimate test awaits: “We have to be prepared, well-rested and mentally prepared to win.”, as per the official Real Madrid site.
Thibaut Courtois amplified the psychological warfare, confronting last season’s double final defeats head-on while cleverly flipping Barcelona’s La Liga Clasico loss into a motivation narrative: “We have to win. Last year, we lost two finals against them, and we want to win, just like them, who lost the Clasico in La Liga and will be hungry for revenge.”
The Belgian goalkeeper emphasized recovery urgency amid Jeddah’s draining conditions: “It will be a great game between two teams who will want to win. We have to recover well and have fresh legs on Sunday.”
Valverde’s thunderbolt performance underscores Madrid’s resilience despite injury concerns clouding Rüdiger, Rodrygo, and Asensio’s availability.
Courtois references the twin 2025 final humiliations—Super Cup and Copa del Rey—fueling the fire of redemption.
Barcelona revel in familiarity; Hansi Flick’s rampant attack shredded Athletic with surgical precision.
Psychological chess intensifies pre-Jeddah. Madrid transforms scar tissue into fuel; Barcelona weaponizes momentum.
Alonso counters Flick’s high-octane press through calculated transitions. Sunday’s cauldron tests mentality where fine margins crown first silverware.
Rivalry’s rich history promises spectacle as eternal foes contest seasonal supremacy once more.
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