Barcelona edged past fierce rivals Real Madrid in a pulsating five-goal Clasico to retain the Spanish Super Cup, sealing back-to-back titles with a thrilling victory in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The win marked Barcelona’s 16th triumph in the competition and underlined their growing dominance over Los Blancos under head coach Hansi Flick.
In a final packed with drama, controversy and late tension, Barcelona emerged victorious thanks to a decisive second-half strike from Raphinha, whose floated effort in the 73rd minute ultimately separated the two sides. It was another statement win for Flick’s in-form team, who also defeated Real Madrid in last year’s Super Cup final.
The match lived up to its billing as an elite showdown between Spain’s two biggest clubs, with both teams trading blows in a chaotic first half before Barcelona showed greater composure in the closing stages.
Barcelona show resilience and firepower in Super Cup classic
Barcelona struck first midway through the opening period when Raphinha drilled a low shot into the bottom corner in the 36th minute, finishing off a sweeping move that exposed Real Madrid’s back line. The Brazilian forward, enjoying an excellent run of form, was a constant menace down the flank and proved decisive once again on the big stage.
What followed was a frantic spell of stoppage-time drama at the end of the first half. Vinicius Jr hauled Real Madrid level two minutes into added time with a moment of brilliance, nutmegging Jules Kounde on a dazzling run before calmly sliding the ball into the far corner. The goal ended a long drought for the Brazilian, who had not scored in 17 matches since early October.
Barcelona thought they had weathered the storm, but the chaos was far from over. Robert Lewandowski restored Barca’s advantage in the 49th minute by clipping his effort in off the post, showing trademark composure in front of goal. However, Real Madrid responded almost immediately when Gonzalo Garcia hooked home from close range following a goalmouth scramble. Dean Huijsen’s header had struck the bar before the loose ball fell kindly, prompting furious protests from Flick, who believed the half-time whistle should already have been blown.
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The second half was more controlled, but no less intense. Barcelona gradually asserted their authority, dominating possession and forcing Real Madrid to defend deep. Their pressure finally told in the 73rd minute when Raphinha struck again, lifting a clever finish over the goalkeeper to give Barca the lead for the third and final time.
Tempers flared late on as Frenkie de Jong was shown a straight red card in stoppage time after lunging into a challenge on Kylian Mbappe, who had been introduced from the bench after recovering from a knee injury. The dismissal set up a nervy finale, with Real Madrid throwing bodies forward in search of an equaliser.
Both sides had chances in the closing moments. Marcus Rashford, clear on goal, dragged his effort wide for Real, while Alvaro Carreras and Raul Asencio both tested Barcelona goalkeeper Joan Garcia, only to shoot straight at him. Despite the late pressure, Barcelona held firm to secure consecutive Super Cup titles for the first time since 2011.
The victory continues an outstanding run of form for Barcelona, who have now won 10 matches in a row in all competitions. Their last defeat came in November, when they were beaten by Chelsea in the Champions League. Domestically, they have not lost to Spanish opposition since October, when Real Madrid edged them in La Liga at the Bernabeu.
This Super Cup success represents Barcelona’s first piece of silverware in 2026 and strengthens their position as favourites for further honours. Flick’s side currently sit four points clear of Real Madrid at the top of La Liga, and confidence within the squad is visibly growing.
The final also extended a remarkable trend, with all of Barcelona’s final victories under Flick coming against Real Madrid. Those include two Super Cups and a Copa del Rey, further cementing Flick’s reputation as a big-game manager. The German coach has now won all eight finals he has been involved in during his managerial career, five of them with Bayern Munich.
For Real Madrid, the defeat raises fresh questions in what has been an inconsistent campaign. Despite five consecutive wins in all competitions prior to this match, their league and European form has failed to meet expectations, and scrutiny around head coach Xabi Alonso may intensify once more.
The Spanish Super Cup has been staged in Saudi Arabia since 2020, with the Spanish Football Federation confirming the tournament will remain there until at least 2029. While the location continues to divide opinion, the spectacle delivered in Jeddah showcased why the Clasico remains one of football’s most compelling rivalries.
For Barcelona, however, the focus is firmly on momentum, trophies and maintaining supremacy over their greatest rivals as they chase a potentially historic season.
Source: BBC
