Barcelona crushed rivals Real Madrid 5-2 in a thrilling Spanish Super Cup final in Saudi Arabia on Sunday, securing the first trophy under Hansi Flick’s management.
Kylian Mbappé gave Madrid an early lead, but Barcelona staged a commanding comeback, scoring five goals before goalkeeper Wojciech Szczęsny was sent off in the second half.
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Madrid, aiming to avenge their 4-0 La Liga loss to Barcelona in October, suffered another humbling defeat in Jeddah.
After Mbappé’s brilliant opener, 17-year-old Lamine Yamal equalized with a stunning solo effort reminiscent of Lionel Messi, and Robert Lewandowski converted a penalty to put Barcelona ahead. Raphinha scored twice, while Alejandro Balde added another, capping a dominant first half for the Catalans.
Madrid’s Rodrygo Goes pulled one back with a free-kick after Szczęsny’s dismissal for a foul on Mbappé. Despite their numerical advantage, Madrid failed to mount a serious comeback.
Both Flick and Carlo Ancelotti kept their semi-final line-ups intact, but it was Barcelona who showcased superior form. Yamal’s early effort and Raphinha’s header tested Madrid’s Thibaut Courtois, but it was Mbappé who broke the deadlock with a counter-attack goal after Vinícius Jr.’s interception.
Barcelona’s relentless attack saw Lewandowski’s penalty converted following Eduardo Camavinga’s reckless foul on Gavi. Raphinha headed in a third from Jules Koundé’s deep cross, and Balde added the fourth after a swift combination with Yamal.
Raphinha sealed his brace in the second half with a composed finish after Marc Casadó’s pass, while Szczęsny’s red card gave Madrid a lifeline. Rodrygo’s free-kick found the net, but subsequent chances, including a Mbappé setup for Jude Bellingham and the French forward’s own shot, were thwarted by Barcelona’s defence and substitute goalkeeper Iñaki Peña.
The match also featured the debut of Dani Olmo, whose registration had sparked controversy earlier in the week, but Barcelona’s emphatic performance overshadowed the drama. Their victory extended their record to 15 Spanish Super Cup titles, marking a dazzling start to Flick’s era.
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