Barcelona delivered a masterclass in attacking football as they roared back from an early deficit to defeat Real Madrid 5-2 in the Spanish Supercopa final in Saudi Arabia.
Hansi Flick’s side shrugged off a challenging season and an early blow from Kylian Mbappé to claim their 15th Supercopa title in emphatic fashion.
Mbappé’s Magic, Barca’s Blitz
The final at King Abdullah Sports City started with a moment of brilliance as Mbappé gave Real Madrid the lead in the fifth minute.
The French superstar stormed from the halfway line and coolly slotted past Wojciech Szczesny, leaving Barcelona stunned.
However, the Catalans regrouped quickly. Lamine Yamal equalized in the 22nd minute with a calm finish from Robert Lewandowski’s assist.
Then, Barcelona unleashed an attacking frenzy that Madrid could not contain.
Lewandowski’s Penalty: Gavi earned a penalty that the Polish striker converted with ease.
Raphinha’s Dominance: The Brazilian added a bullet header before setting up Alejandro Balde for a fourth in the 10th minute of added time.
Second-Half Statement: Raphinha struck again just after the restart, taking his tally for the season to 19 goals.
Szczesny’s Red Card Drama
The only dark moment for Barcelona came when goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny was shown a straight red card for a foul on Mbappé outside the box in the 56th minute.
Substitute Iñaki Peña stepped up, but Rodrygo curled home the resulting free-kick to give Madrid a glimmer of hope.
Despite being a man down, Barcelona’s lead remained secure till the final whistle was blown.
Flick and Raphinha React
Head coach Hansi Flick praised his team’s performance:
“I’m really proud. Proud for the team, the staff, the club, the fans, everyone. Today was an unbelievable match. For the coaches, not so much! But for the fans, it’s really fantastic.”
Raphinha, named MVP of the final, emphasized the team’s belief in their potential:
“We know what we have to do on the pitch. We believe in the boss, and the boss believes in us. The important thing is we can fight for titles and win them.”
Madrid’s Disappointment
Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti lamented his side’s defensive fragility, admitting:
“We didn’t defend well. They scored the goals easily, and we didn’t work hard, collectively or individually. We lost a lot of duels. That makes us sad and disappointed, but that’s football.”
Midfield veteran Luka Modric apologized to fans, vowing a response:
“We didn’t expect to lose like that, but it’s football. We’re sorry to the fans. We have to keep going, stay united. There’s a lot of season left.”
Context and Implications
This victory marks Barcelona’s second Clasico triumph this season, following a 4-0 demolition of Madrid at the Bernabéu in October.
For Flick, it is his first trophy since joining the club and a testament to his team’s potential, despite their struggles in La Liga, where they sit five points behind Madrid.
For Real Madrid, this defeat is a reality check after a strong run of form.
While Mbappé continues to shine with 14 goals this season, Ancelotti must address his team’s defensive lapses as they look to regroup for upcoming challenges.
A Clasico to Remember
For Hansi Flick’s side, this could be the turning point of their season. For Madrid, it’s back to the drawing board as they aim to recover from a bitter defeat at the hands of their fiercest rivals.
