The unusual reason why Real Madrid vs Atletico Madrid will not be shown on live TV in the UK

Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid will go head-to-head in the Spanish Supercopa on Wednesday, but fans in the UK won't be able to watch the match.

The Supercup isn't the most prestigious competition in Spanish football, but all four of the teams involved will be desperate to win it all the same.

Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid will meet in the first semi-final on Wednesday in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, with kick-off set for 10pm local time (7pm GMT).

If a recent meeting between the two club's U12s teams was anything to go by, it's going to be a pretty spicy affair.

The winner will face either Barcelona or Osasuna - who meet in Thursday's semi-final - in the final on Sunday, 14 January.

2022 winners Real Madrid are looking to win the competition after losing 3-1 to Barcelona in the 2023 final. Atletico qualified for the competition by finishing third in the La Liga table last season, and have not lifted the trophy since 2014.

The timing of the competition in January - as opposed to the pre-season slot that the English Community Shield occupies - increases the likelihood of big clashes with star players already being full up to speed.

A Madrid derby and a potential Clasico final are mouthwatering fixtures, but fans in the UK will not be able to watch Carlo Ancelotti's side take on Diego Simeone's men.

While the match is being broadcast in the United States on ESPN in both English and Spanish, so far no UK broadcasters have opted to take up the match.

TNT Sports - formerly BT Sport - broadcasted the semi-finals and the final in 2023.

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Real Madrid go into the clash as favourites, with Ancelotti's side currently sitting top of pile in La Liga. Los Blancos, inspired by the superb form of Jude Bellingham, have won their last five games in all competitions and are unbeaten in 19 outings. Coincidently, their last defeat came against Atletico in September, with Alvaro Morata scoring a brace in a 3-1 win for Los Colchoneros.

Atleti are fifth in La Liga, 10 points behind their bitter rivals. Simeone's side have endured a mixed month, winning just four of their eight games and losing to Barcelona, Athletic Club and Girona.

Real Madrid will be without the injured David Alaba, Thibaut Courtois and Eder Militao, while Atletico will have to make do without Reinildo Mandava who is on African Cup of Nations duty.