Barcelona have been crowned Spanish Super Cup champions after a chaotic and thrilling 3-2 victory over arch-rivals Real Madrid in a final that delivered relentless drama in Jeddah.
Chaos and Goals Define Epic Clásico Final
The match exploded into life after a cagey opening half-hour, producing a breathtaking sequence of four goals in the final 15 minutes of the first half. Barcelona took the lead twice, only for Madrid to peg them back on each occasion in a spell of pure bedlam.
Raphinha opened the scoring for Barça in the 36th minute, coolly finishing after being found by Fermín López. Just when it seemed Xavi's side would take a firm grip on the game, Vinícius Júnior produced a moment of magic in first-half stoppage time. The Brazilian embarked on a stunning solo run from the halfway line, weaving through the defence to slot home and end a personal 16-game goal drought.
Barcelona's response was immediate. From the restart, Raphinha found Pedri, who slipped in Robert Lewandowski. The Polish striker showed sublime composure to dink the ball over the advancing Thibaut Courtois and restore Barcelona's lead. The drama wasn't over, as in the seventh minute of added time, a Dean Huijsen header was scrambled off the line, with Gonzalo García eventually forcing the ball over to make it 2-2 at the break.
Raphinha Seals It with a Stroke of Fortune
The second half continued at a frenetic pace, with Vinícius remaining a constant threat for Madrid. Courtois was forced into a superb point-blank save from Lamine Yamal to keep his team level. The decisive moment arrived in the 73rd minute, albeit with a large slice of luck. Raphinha's shot took a huge deflection off Raúl Asencio, looping over a stranded Courtois to complete the Brazilian winger's brace and put Barcelona 3-2 ahead.
Madrid threw everything forward in search of another equaliser, even introducing Kylian Mbappé from the bench. The pressure told as Frenkie de Jong received a late red card, setting up a grandstand finish. Deep into stoppage time, with every outfield player in the Barcelona box, the final chance fell to Asencio. His header, however, was straight at goalkeeper Joan García, who held firm to secure the trophy for his team.
First Silverware of the Season for Barcelona
The final whistle sparked jubilant celebrations for Barcelona, who lift the first piece of silverware this season. For Real Madrid manager Xabi Alonso, the result in Jeddah was meant to be a final judgement, but his team's spirited fightback may offer some reason for optimism despite the defeat.
The match was a fittingly wild edition of El Clásico, defying easy analysis and leaving players from both sides utterly exhausted. Pedri was so overcome with cramp at the final whistle he collapsed to the turf. In the end, Raphinha's double and Lewandowski's clinical finish proved enough to see Barcelona through a monumental test and claim the Supercopa de España.
