JEDDAH: Real Madrid could unleash their biggest weapon in Sunday’s Spanish Super Cup final against Barcelona, with coach Xabi Alonso saying they are considering taking a risk on Kylian Mbappe’s fitness after he missed the semifinal. Mbappe, who matched Cristiano Ronaldo’s club record of 59 goals in a calendar year during Real’s 2-0 LaLiga win over Sevilla last month, is nursing a knee injury.
The France forward, who has scored 12 goals in nine matches against Barcelona, flew to Saudi Arabia on Friday to join the squad ahead of the El Clasico showdown in Jeddah.
“He’s much better,” Alonso told reporters. “Against Atletico, he was just about ready, and we decided not to rush him, but we kept in mind that he might be able to play in the final.
“He flew yesterday and will train with the team today. We’ll assess him and decide whether he’ll start or play a little less. It’s a decision we’ll make with the player, the coaches and the doctors. The moment we’re in and what’s at stake ... It’s a controlled risk.”
Real beat Barcelona 2-1 at the Bernabeu in October after losing the Spanish Super Cup final and the Copa del Rey final to their arch-rivals last season.
“We’re focused on what we have to do and how to play the match,” Alonso said. “It will be a match with moments for everything. We have to have the necessary energy.”
Barcelona manager Hansi Flick described Mbappe as the best striker around.
“We’ll adapt a little, but so will Real Madrid,” the German said. “We have to play the way Barcelona always plays, with our style, which is different from Real Madrid’s.
Barcelona lead LaLiga with 49 points from 19 matches, four ahead of second-placed Real.
Flick confirmed Lamine Yamal was ready to start, having come on as a substitute in Barcelona’s 5-0 semifinal thrashing of Athletic Bilbao on Wednesday.
Real Madrid weigh Mbappe gamble ahead of Spanish Super Cup final
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Real Madrid weigh Mbappe gamble ahead of Spanish Super Cup final
Australia rest Cummins, Hazlewood, Maxwell for Pakistan T20 series
- Josh Hazlewood, Tim David and Nathan Ellis will also skip the series starting later this month
- Australia will play Pakistan in Lahore on Jan. 29, 31 and Feb. 1, before traveling to Sri Lanka
MELBOURNE: Australia will rest five top players, including Pat Cummins and Glenn Maxwell, for a three-match Twenty20 series in Pakistan ahead of the World Cup, selectors said Monday.
Josh Hazlewood, Tim David and Nathan Ellis will also skip the series starting later this month.
Their absence opened the door to fringe players Sean Abbott, Mahli Beardman, Ben Dwarshuis, Jack Edwards, Mitch Owen, Josh Phillippe and Matt Renshaw, who come into the 17-man squad.
Chief selector George Bailey said the five were either returning from injury or having their loads managed ahead of the T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka which begin on February 7.
“The series is a great opportunity for those on the brink of selection and some young players we rate highly for valuable experience,” he added.
“Some are already experienced international players, along with Mahli Beardman who has been with the group a number of times, and Jack Edwards who joined for the last one-day match against India in Sydney last year.”
Australia will play Pakistan in Lahore on January 29, 31 and February 1, before traveling to Sri Lanka where they are scheduled to open their World Cup campaign against Ireland in Colombo on February 11.
Australia squad: Mitchell Marsh (capt), Sean Abbott, Xavier Bartlett, Mahli Beardman, Cooper Connolly, Ben Dwarshuis, Jack Edwards, Cameron Green, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Matthew Kuhnemann, Mitch Owen, Josh Philippe, Matthew Renshaw, Matthew Short, Marcus Stoinis, Adam Zampa
