Carlo Ancelotti will be looking to avenge Real Madrid's 4-0 defeat to Barcelona in their LaLiga Clasico in October in this weekend's Supercopa de Espana final.
Robert Lewandowski, Lamine Yamal and Raphinha were all on target at the Bernabeu to end Los Blancos' 42-match unbeaten run in the Spanish top flight.
Madrid have since recovered from that setback, winning their last five games in all competitions and scoring at least two goals in each win (3.4 goals per game).
Should they beat Barca in the final, it will be their longest winning run since a seven-match run that ended with their 2024 Spanish Super Cup triumph in January last year.
But Ancelotti remained cautious ahead of their meeting as the Madrid head coach aims to win a record-extending 16th major honor in charge of Los Blancos.
“We have to think about what happened in the first match because they beat us (in LaLiga),” Ancelotti told reporters on Saturday.
“We have made a fairly clear assessment, so we will have to repeat the good things we have done and avoid the mistakes.
“A Clasico is always a Clasico, but a final puts a little more pressure on you.”
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Ancelotti revealed that Jude Bellingham, who scored in their semi-final win over Mallorca, would be available after suffering some muscle problems during that match.
Bellingham is the midfielder in the top five European leagues who has scored the most goals in all competitions in the last two months (nine goals).
“He's doing well, he's recovered well,” the Italian said of Bellingham, Real's third-highest scorer and co-top with assists in their current LaLiga season.
Madrid and Barcelona will meet for the tenth time in the Spanish Super Cup final and for the third time in the single leg format, with Los Blancos winning seven titles to their rivals' two in those matches.
Ancelotti stressed the importance of winning the title and the implications it could have on their quest for glory in LaLiga and the Champions League this season.
“If we didn't win it, it didn't go well. It's a match that gives you a lot more motivation,” Ancelotti concluded.
“Barcelona is a historic rival and the matches are always very competitive. It is difficult for us and for them. The result of the match cannot be predicted.”
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