Barcelona has triumphantly claimed its 16th Spanish Super Cup title, extending its record as the competition’s most successful club, following an exhilarating 3-2 victory over fierce rivals Real Madrid. The highly anticipated final was held at the King Abdullah Sports City Stadium in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on the night of January 11.
The decisive match saw a flurry of goals in a captivating first half. Brazilian forward Raphinha opened the scoring for Barcelona in the 36th minute, setting the tone for a dynamic encounter. However, Real Madrid’s Vinicius Junior quickly responded, finding the equalizer in the 45+2nd minute. Not long after, Robert Lewandowski restored Barcelona’s lead in the 45+4th minute, only for Gonzalo Garcia to level the score once more just three minutes later, sending the teams into halftime locked at a thrilling 2-2.
As the second half unfolded, the tension mounted with both teams pressing for a winner. It was Raphinha who once again proved to be the hero for Barcelona, netting his second goal of the night in the 73rd minute. This crucial strike ultimately secured the winning goal for the Catalan giants against their traditional adversaries.
The victory not only allowed coach Hansi Flick’s side to defend their Super Cup title but also solidified their dominance in the competition. Barcelona now boasts an impressive 16 Spanish Super Cup championships, further distancing themselves from Real Madrid, who currently hold 13 titles. Despite a strong push from Real Madrid in the closing stages, including close-range attempts from Alvaro Carreras and Franco Mastantuono that were thwarted by Barcelona goalkeeper Joan Garcia, they were unable to find a third goal to alter the outcome. Barcelona’s resilient defense and clinical finishing ultimately paved the way for their historic triumph.
