JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia — Jude Bellingham continued to shine for Real Madrid, scoring a crucial goal in a dominant 3-0 victory over Mallorca, securing a spot in the Spanish Super Cup final. The match took place in Saudi Arabia on Thursday, showcasing Bellingham’s significant impact on the team this season, particularly as he has been increasingly effective in recent matches.

Despite a slow start to the current campaign, the England international has gained momentum, tallying seven goals in his last eight appearances in La Liga. In the Super Cup semifinal, Bellingham found the net in the 63rd minute, breaking through a determined Mallorca defense that had kept Real Madrid at bay until that point.

Bellingham’s goal came after a series of attempts from his teammates; Rodrygo hit the post, and Kylian Mbappé’s follow-up was thwarted by Mallorca’s goalkeeper, Dominik Greif. Seizing the opportunity, Bellingham reacted swiftly to the rebound, scoring from just outside the six-yard box despite the presence of three defenders attempting to shield the goal.

As the match drew to a close, Real Madrid added two more goals during stoppage time. First, Mallorca’s Martin Valjent inadvertently scored an own goal, redirecting a pass from Brahim Díaz into his own net. Soon after, Rodrygo made it three for Madrid, cementing their victory.

Post-match, a brief altercation ensued following the final whistle when tensions rose after Bellingham tapped Mallorca defender Pablo Maffeo on the back of the neck, a culmination of their heated exchanges throughout the game. However, the situation was quickly defused.

Real Madrid’s next challenge will be against Barcelona in the final on Sunday. In the semifinal, they lost midfielder Aurélien Tchouaméni in the 54th minute to a head injury, resulting from a collision with a Mallorca player; he was replaced by youth standout Raúl Asencio.

Real Madrid entered the match as the reigning Spanish league champions, while Mallorca earned their spot as the runners-up in the Copa del Rey. Notably, former Madrid star Karim Benzema, now part of the Saudi Arabian league, was present to witness the match.

Since 2019, this minor trophy has turned into a lucrative venture for the Spanish Football Federation and participating clubs, thanks to a deal that brought the competition to the Middle East.