In a pulsating El Clasico final, FC Barcelona emerged victorious over Real Madrid with a 3-2 scoreline to retain the Spanish Super Cup in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on Sunday. This victory marks a record-extending 16th Super Cup triumph for the Catalan giants.
Frenetic First Half Sets the Stage
The match at the King Abdullah Sports City stadium was a rollercoaster from the start. Barcelona drew first blood after 36 minutes when Brazilian winger Raphinha fired a low shot past Thibaut Courtois. Real Madrid's response was swift and spectacular, as Vinicius Junior ended his personal goal drought with a brilliant solo effort, nutmegging a defender before finishing calmly.
The drama intensified deep into first-half stoppage time. Barcelona's veteran striker Robert Lewandowski expertly chipped the ball over Courtois to restore the lead, only for Gonzalo Garcia to strike back almost immediately for Madrid, sending the teams into the break level at 2-2.
Decisive Deflection and Late Drama
The second half was a more controlled affair until the 73rd minute, when the match was decided by fortune. Raphinha's shot from outside the box took a decisive deflection off Madrid's Raul Asencio, wrong-footing Courtois and nestling in the net for his second goal of the night.
Madrid coach Xabi Alonso, still seeking his first trophy since arriving in June, introduced Kylian Mbappe for the final 15 minutes. The French superstar, recently recovered from a knee sprain, could not find an equalizer. The game's closing stages saw Barcelona's Frenkie de Jong receive a red card for a high challenge on Mbappe, but Madrid failed to capitalize on their numerical advantage.
Consequences and Comments
This defeat ends Real Madrid's run of five consecutive wins across all competitions and is likely to reignite discussions about Alonso's future at the helm. For Barcelona, this is the fourth trophy under coach Hansi Flick, who has now masterminded five Clasico wins over Madrid.
"We're very happy, another trophy, it's always a big game against Madrid," said match-winner Robert Lewandowski in a post-match interview. Madrid's Alonso acknowledged the tight contest, stating, "Whatever way you lose it hurts, but it's clear that this was a very even game, hotly competed."
Barcelona, now on a run of 10 straight victories, will hope this Super Cup win provides a platform to challenge for La Liga, a title historically often won by the team that lifts this particular cup.
