In a breathtaking display of footballing drama, Barcelona triumphed over arch-rivals Real Madrid 3-2 in the Spanish Super Cup final on Sunday, securing their second consecutive title in a result that deepens the pressure on Madrid manager Xabi Alonso.
A frenetic first-half finale set the stage for a classic Clásico at the King Abdullah Sports City in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, ultimately decided by a deflected strike from the exceptional Raphinha.
The match began with strategic caution under the Saudi Arabian lights, Real Madrid adopting a deep, counter-attacking posture while Barcelona dominated possession. The deadlock was broken in the 36th minute when Raphinha, moments after blazing a golden chance wide, arrowed a low shot past Thibaut Courtois to give Barcelona the lead.
The game then erupted in a scarcely believable sequence just before halftime. In the second minute of added time, Vinícius Jr., ending a 17-game scoring drought for his club, embarked on a sensational solo run from near midfield, nutmegging Jules Koundé before finishing coolly to equalize. Barcelona responded almost instantly, with Robert Lewandowski chipping over Courtois after a fine pass from Pedri.
Yet Madrid, demonstrating trademark resilience, leveled again before the whistle could blow. A Dean Huijsen header struck the crossbar, and Gonzalo García hooked in the rebound while falling, sending the teams into the break at 2-2 after a six-minute, three-goal whirlwind.
The decisive moment arrived in the 73rd minute, laced with fortune. Raphinha, the eventual Man of the Match, saw his shot from the edge of the area take a critical deflection off defender Raúl Asencio, wrong-footing Courtois and nestling in the net.
Real Madrid, with Kylian Mbappé introduced from the bench, pushed desperately for another equalizer, especially after Barcelona’s Frenkie de Jong was sent off in stoppage time for a foul on the French star. In a heart-stopping finale, Madrid created two clear chances, but Álvaro Carreras and then Asencio sent their efforts straight at goalkeeper Joan García, allowing Barcelona to hold on for a record-extending 16th Super Cup crown.
The victory cements Barcelona’s domestic dominance under Hansi Flick, who has now won all three of his finals against Real Madrid. “I am proud,” Flick said post-match. “We played our style… and we were fighting together, as a team.” He reserved special praise for his match-winner, stating, “His mentality is unbelievable. His dynamic affects the whole team”.
For Real Madrid and Xabi Alonso, the narrow defeat offers little consolation. The manager acknowledged the pain of the loss but pointed to fine margins, saying, “It was an even match… and they were lucky with that goal”. The result leaves Alonso’s future under intense scrutiny, though a valiant performance from his team in defeat may afford him more time.
The tournament also saw memorable semi-final action, where Real Madrid booked their final place with a 2-1 win over Atlético Madrid, sealed by a stunning free-kick from captain Federico Valverde. Barcelona had earlier demolished Athletic Club 5-0, with Raphinha scoring twice in a sign of things to come.
With this first trophy of the season secured, Barcelona sets its sights on a potential treble, while Real Madrid is left to ponder what might have been in the desert heat.