Barcelona have lifted the first trophy of the season after a breathless and chaotic 3-2 victory over arch-rivals Real Madrid in the Spanish Super Cup final in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The match, which defied easy analysis, was settled by a brace from Brazilian winger Raphinha and a crucial strike from Robert Lewandowski.
A First Half of Frenzied Action
For the opening half-hour, the contest failed to ignite as a spectacle. Barcelona dominated possession but struggled to break down a disciplined Madrid setup, seemingly designed to contain and release Vinícius Júnior on the counter. The best early chance fell to the Brazilian, who was denied by Barcelona goalkeeper Joan García.
The game exploded into life after a drinks break. In a madcap fifteen-minute spell before half-time, the teams shared four goals. Raphinha opened the scoring on 36 minutes, cutting inside and guiding a fine shot into the corner. Just as Barcelona looked in control, Vinícius Júnior produced a moment of individual brilliance, racing from the halfway line in first-half stoppage time to slot home and end a personal 16-game goalless run.
Barcelona responded almost instantly. Raphinha found Pedri, who slipped in Lewandowski to dink an exquisite finish over Thibaut Courtois. Madrid protested that added time had elapsed, but Barcelona's lead was restored. The drama wasn't over, however. From a Dean Huijsen header, Raphinha's attempted clearance on the line hit the bar and fell for Gonzalo García, who scrambled in an equaliser. The teams went into the break level at 2-2 after a scarcely believable sequence.
Raphinha Seals It Amid Late Drama
The second half saw chances at both ends. Vinícius remained a constant menace, twice testing Joan García, while at the other end, Courtois made a crucial point-blank save from teenage sensation Lamine Yamal. The decisive moment arrived in the 73rd minute, albeit with a slice of fortune. Raphinha's shot took a decisive deflection off Raúl Asencio, looping over Courtois to complete the Brazilian's double and put Barcelona ahead for the third time.
Madrid, with Kylian Mbappé introduced from the bench, pushed desperately for another leveller. Frenkie de Jong was sent off in added time, setting up a grandstand finish. In the 97th minute, with every outfield player in the Barcelona box, the ball dropped to Asencio, but his header was held by García. The goalkeeper repeated the feat moments later from Álvaro Carreras, ensuring Barcelona held on for a dramatic victory.
Consequences and Celebrations
The final whistle sparked exhausted celebrations from the Barcelona players, with Pedri collapsing with cramp. The win delivers the season's first piece of silverware to the Camp Nou, albeit the least significant. For Madrid manager Xabi Alonso, the defeat in what was billed as a potential final judgement on his tenure may be tempered by his team's spirited reaction and fight in a match they never led.
The match was a classic El Clásico encounter: illogical, exhausting, and ultimately unforgettable. While questions will linger for Madrid, Barcelona can celebrate a trophy won through resilience and key contributions from their attacking stars, with Raphinha deservedly taking the headlines.
